I’m not sure where this photograph was taken possibly Head Wrightson or ICI, maybe someone can help… The woman in the centre of the photograph (wearing the white cardigan and shoes) is my grandmother Gladys Blackburn. c1960s.
Photograph and details courtesy of Penny Lindo.
Yes, the picture is ELTA PLASTICS on Yarm Road. Specifically, the TOOLROOM area in its early days. I worked there from 1979 to 1987. Part of the machine shown was A Bridgeport milling machine. The Building had been greatly extended when I started there. Its now a LIDL!
Thank you for all your comments, my grandma is no longer with us so I can’t ask her, but she did work in a lot of places.
Could it be possibly Elta Plastics?
The roof windows were called ‘north lights’ this being that the window faced the north to let in the light without the sunlight shining straight in. So these people are facing north if that is any help.
The machine on the extreme left behind the gent in the white dust coat is a Bridgeport milling machine–complete with new wooden duck boards–so a new machine shop opening in the area??
The kit on the floor front and far right could be part of a plastic injection mould.
To me the kit on the left looks like a 50 litre spherical glass reactor vessel, with bottom outlet valve and drain, sat in its cradle. Provision is present for a motor driven mechanical stirrer above the vessel with a stirrer impeller seen stored on the ground. I used similar kit to make metal powders in the chemical industry. Combined with the men in white coats I would guess this is a chemical or food processing establishment to some extent, thus probably not Head Wrightson.
That mention of ‘food processing’ made me think of Sparks Daylight Bakery, particularly in terms of the skylights. However, aerial photographs of the bakery, i.e. available on this site, show them to be of a completely different shape. I recall visiting the Forbes bakery on Linthorpe Rd in M’bro, whilst at junior school. For some reason, guided ‘bakery tours’ were popular with schools back then. Maybe it was the tea-party afterwards? A tea that that included a mountain of strawberry tarts, cream cakes and warm buttered scones, served in the staff canteen!
There is a distinctive system of skylights to the roof which, with a little imagination, could possibly identify the premises externally. However, the front row shows an unusual, perhaps wonderful, array of very smart ’60’s ladies fashion, i.e. coats, dresses and even a trouser-suit
The girl in the white dress at the front is Val Rogers (MARRIED NAME) I worked with her at Hintons but this is not hintons I think it could be the door company that was at Tilery
Was it the bread factory between Eaglescliffe and Stockton?
I don’t think this is ICI, as having some 45 years service, I recall even in the 60’s all visitors regardless of who, had to wear a safety helmet etc, I don’t think small children were allowed on site, except possibly quite elderly school children possibly looking at industries or possible apprenticeships. ICI were quite big on isle ways / pathways etc being clearly marked, don’t see any on this photo.
This doesn’t look like anywhere I remember in Head Wrightson’s, as I worked there at the time and do not recognise the setting or any of the people in the picture.
Do you Know if a John Myers worked at ICI while you were there?
There was a John Myers who lived in Billingham and worked as, I think, a trainee engineer at ICI Billingham. He left around 1972ish to join the Royal Air Force, became a pilot and later flew with the Red Arrows aerobatic team.
I think he may have been a clerk. I think he was maybe 49 in 1969 and a widower. He had a daughter aged 22 who I am trying to trace. Thank You.