This is a photograph taken at Middleton St George Airshow in 1966, shows a local group named Patchwork.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
This is a photograph taken at Middleton St George Airshow in 1966, shows a local group named Patchwork.
I worked with Ronny at the Malleable BSC and drove a van for them for a while.
Interesting comments from Ken Rhodes. I have been trying to recall the apprentices at Pickerings during the period I served my apprenticeship 1966-71. Ken is quite correct, the company did, without doubt, exploit us young men. What is sad nowadays is that back then there was such a wealth of first class engineering companies that we could migrate to and be successful in our chosen trades. From what I understand of the region today is that the engineering companies that existed are no more. The engineering heart of Britain is long gone. Are there any traditional engineering companies operating in the region that offer apprenticeships any more? As Ken rightly comments those apprentice day”s were truly happy one”s where young men worked towards maturity, learning and competing together, and affording the utmost respect to management.It would be good to hear from any of the Pickerings apprentices that moved on shortly after reaching the magic age of 21.(As in my case) Shame on you Pickerings for exploiting us. But a big thank you for the character you helped build within us. And of course the great memories that enable us to discuss them on this forum.
I served my apprenticship at Pickerings Lifts when I left school in 1948 and even at that time the firm was run on the cheap by using young people who were nearly always finished when they reached the age of 21. I attended Constantine College till I was 21 and lost half a days pay each week because the company would”nt pay me for attending on an afternoon when they thought I should have been at work. I was even told off for having a night off to go dancing at the Maison. I told the manager at the time to get lost and mind his own business, it had nothing to do with him, until he started to pay me for the lost afternoon. Most of the youths in the works got very good training and experience in the skills used to make the lifts but now I understand nearly everything is bought in, a lot different to my days when just about the full lift was made at the Globe works. Again I can say happy days.
IN ANSWER TO BOB RICKETTS QUESTION ON WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BAND PATCHWORK – MACCA, I BELIEVE, IS WORKING IN CANADA, ALAN WAS RESIDENT DRUMMER IN THE MALLEABLE CLUB, UNTIL TURNS BECAME SELF SUPPORTED, RONNIE PLAYED ON FOR YEARS WITH A GROUP CALLED CYCLE, ALAN STILL LIVES IN NORTON, RONNIE LIVES IN WINGATE, SADLY GOFF PRAGNALL DIED A FEW YEARS AGO. I AM IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH RONNIE & ALAN.
75% of Patchwork – Macca, Alan and Ronnie all worked at Pickerings lifts. I worked with them there. They all seemed to move on from Pickerings quickly. I recall this was a period when the company ran foul of union rules by employing an incorrect ratio of apprentices per tradesman, (cheap labour !). I was farmed out for a year to Head Wrightson”s apprentice school, the guy”s from Patchwork had all gone when I got back ! (1967 /68)I remember the band being good, whatever happened to them ?
THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN AT MIDDLETON ST GEORGE AIRSHOW IN 1966 OF A LOCAL GROUP FROM STOCKTON NAMED PATCHWORK – GOFF PRAGNALL, ALAN AMBLER, MAC MCKENZIE & RON PATTERSON. THEY WERE BOOKED TO ENTERTAIN THE CROWDS ALONG WITH OTHER GROUPS.