Women at the controls of Overhead Cranes

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• Hi, The lady is my Nan, Mary Lewis (Hamp). She is nearly 98 years old and now lives in Leicester, near her family. If anyone has any photos or stories please share them with me so I can pass them on.

  By Nigel Lewis (23/08/2018)

• Mary’s last name is Hamp. I believe she lived in an apartment in St Michael’s Square ? just off Westgate Street.

  By Jim Rigby (07/06/2014)

• John, the lady operating the 15 ton crane was called Mary, but her surname, unfortunately, I can’t recall. What I do remember is that she was once interviewed on the radio, I think by Jack De Manio, about her life working in an engineering factory and driving the overhead cranes. Whether this took place in the later 1960’s or ’70’s, I can’t remember. What I do remember is that John Burden, one of the men in the general stores, said to me that morning when I had gone to the stores, that she was going to be on and he had his radio there ready to listen, and sure enough, there she was. Mary was driving the cranes in the old heavy Hydraulic 1 fitting shop during the 1960’s, and also over the road in the ‘new shop’ during the 1970’s. When she finally retired or left F&P I don’t remember now. Chippy Aston.

  By Graham Aston (04/10/2013)

• Jim, it certainly looks like a Dynamometer, however, I have not been able to find an order for one around the time the photo was taken. It is possible that we may have stored it for H & F as we would have easily been able to lift and lower it from transport with the 40 ton crane. Separately, are you able to identify the two women operating the 40 ton and 15 ton cranes in the photos. Best wishes, John B

  By John Bancroft (18/09/2013)

• The first picture, is that a dynamometer in the pit, that we built for Heenan & Froude?

  By Jim Rigby (13/09/2013)