Interior views of Harkers engineering company 1970/1980. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Interior views of Harkers engineering company 1970/1980.
Hi Colin Burton here. I still think of the great times I spent at Harkers and some of the extreme components which Harkers engineering took on. Great engineers all round. I spoke to Eddie Kendal and Terry Blenkinsop on the 3rd Feb-16 both doing well. Does anyone have Keith Chapman’s phone number by any chance, I would like to give him a buzz, it’s been a long time since I spoke to him.
All the best to every Harkers employee, we were great at what we did.
I worked for harker eng as a sup contractor, for Morgan Moore electrical engineers, and in 1981 started my own electrical company. I got a lot of help from Mr Fred Harker and Malcolm Harker as for the Harker staff you could not get any better well mannerd people.
I wish you all the best in what ever you do.
Joe
Hi Joe, nice to hear from you. You must remember me, Mike Bellerby the slinger from 4 shop. If you search for more Harkers stuff on this site you will see quite a lot of posts from the former staff all saying pretty much the same as you. My dad Norman is still going strong and I’ve even been in touch with Malcolm in Seattle. I needed some help with what the Ruth Harker Memorial cup was being awarded to Len Turner for and he kindly obliged. I haven’t seen you or Dave since you moved from Norton road. Hope everything’s ok at your end.
Mike Bellerby
Hi there,
Apparently my Grandfather ‘Les Raffle’ worked at Harkers back in the 40’s I think. We have recently found a picture of him in front of a machine he made whilst working at Harker’s. Does anyone remember him. He was originally from Durham and emigrated to Australia with his family in the late 50’s.
Mark
The guy in the white overall looks like little Bobby Toward from Willington, and the guy on permanent nights was George Sudron & Trevor Smith in the stores. Sadly Ernie Johnson, Norman West, Paddy Crossen, Paul(Podgy)Davies & Fred Harker are no longer with us.
I served my time at Harkers starting in 1981. Great memories of the place and I often think of my 7 years there. I remember many people including: Ian Smith, Chris Furphy, Dave Newson, Steve Metcalfe, John Taylor, Ernie and Norman (and Michael!), Little Norman West (Nosher!), (Fast) Eddie West, Rob Shearer, Blenky, Swish, John Humpelby, Derek Overton, Tony Cook, Paddy and Podgy, Trevor in the stores, Les Turnbull, George ? (permanent nights), Eddie Southgate, Davey Coppins, Sgt Bilko, Dave Smith, Malcolm Smailes, Mickey Hope and of course Malcolm and old Fred. One error above – I’m pretty sure the young lad with the white coat on looking at the drawings is in fact Chris Furphy and he’s stood with Bobby ? the supervisor. I am on the far right of the photo by the way.
Yes Fred Harker always made time to speak personally to new starters & get a insight into their background. Even when he was retired he was proud of his Head Wrightson’s service & made no secret of it – its a pity he had to retire.
The goverment should use a bit of that Harkers ambition & discipline to get our young people into work.
If Fred Harker was still with us, I would vote for him,
Nice to see all the names from the past, best wishes.
Everyone played a part from the cleaners, to the MD, we all turned out a good shift……
A big vote of thanks should go to John Umpleby
who ran Harker’s social section & organised the Christmas Dinner Dances & other functions.
I remember Harker engineering as the pinicle of engineering. John Taylor – top man, could engineer, and solve many problems prior to manufacturing. Dowty Rotol, and Aljo, were just a few. I was employed by Harker family for 16 years. Top firm, top lads (and carnie) Thanks for all the memories.
Anon is absolutley right, all good craftsmen in there own right. They and others brought skills to Harkers that the company would and did need.
Nice to see you are still about Terry, I still remember the lads I served My time with, yourself, chalky White, Colin Veitch, Brian Sayers, Adamson?, Bobby Hora. Also the humour from Charlie Rowden and Val Pattinson on a lunch time. The supervisors such as Jack Ayre, Stan Wareing, Len Sturman and Joe Summers also the accident prone Ken Monkhouse. Harkers gave Me a good engineering background which I took with me into the oil & gas industry to great jobs in Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, the Middle East and all over Europe. Regards and Best wishes. Tony Minto
Out of the five craftsmen mentioned above only one was created by Harkers, young Dave Watson. Ian Jobling & Bill Sharp were Head Wrightsons men, Rob Shearer was from Teesside Bridge. The big companies closing on Teesside was Harkers gain.
I worked at Harkers for 31 years and know nearly all the people mentioned on this site.
There where some interesting times under Len Stirman, Paul Kidd & Jim Nichols. Harkers did create some excellent craftsmen in its time and it’s pleasing to know that nearly all are still gainfully employed in engineering. I’m now at Rolls Royce Sunderland along with Bill Sharp, Rob Shearer, Ian Jobling, Rob Gill & Dave Watson, plus a number of men from Forty shop.
Hello – did you chaps drink in the Brown jug circa 1969? I was hoping to find someone who knew an Irishman named Patrick (paddy) who must have worked on or close to Norton Road. He drank in the pup, and knew my mother Betty Bowes – a barmaid there at the time. thank you.
I was also an apprentice at HARKERS till I joined the Merchant Navy in 1963. I also remember Norman, and Ernie, and I can add a few more names to the same list – Len Turner, Billy Kelly, Ray Hartly and Peter Mc. All were also keen footallers, as we played in the road between the sheds at lunch time. I recall the Manager at the time, Monkhouse, and Joe, the foreman of the girls, turning out 1000″s of pins. Others I still remember were Peter and Terry Crisp, Len Stirman (See Ref 3701 on this site). We played 2 games of cricket every year, and everyone enjoyed the dinner dance at christmas too. At the time I worked there most staff were dedicated to Freddy and worked hard but with pleasure.
Harkers Engineering got sterling service out of two top tradesmen in Norman Bellerby & Ernie Johnson who were both there as man & boy with nearly 100 years service between them, both were keen footballers & were top blokes.
It is nice to hear everyone is ok. Like you I”m sad about the loss of Harker”s, it was indeed a good place and happy place to go to work.It produced a lot of good tradesmen and people.
I was an apprentice at harkers 1979-82. the picture is exactly how I remember it. I still keep in touch with some of the other lads who were there then,like ian burns, chris furphy, dave newson and steve metcalfe. Happy days its a shame its no more i was quite shocked when i heard. Ian smith
Hi Geoff remember me? Part of Harkers site (1 & 2 shops) are now run by Scottish company called K.R.G. Industries Ltd which took it over around September 2006 same old machines and some of the same old people including myself ,3 & 4 shops now house Francis Brown Fabricators. The Harker family now have no involvement in it at all which is a shame after running the place for so many generations.
I am the young man (Geoff Longstaff) in the pitchure stood looking at Engineering drawings with my Forman Mr Jack Arye of Norton. Question; is Harker & Sons still a family Business.
I worked for hakers eng for 9 years from 1974, Mr Harker took all of the staff to London for a weekend holiday to celebrate 100 years of business. I worked as an inspector in the workshop shown,(Geoff Longstaff)Thank you to the Harker family for the discipline and support.
Anyone remember Gilbert Dale?
When Gilbert retired he always went to speak to Michael Bellerby’s father Norman when visiting the factory.
yes, I remember Gilbert, taught me a lot about engineering and life in general.