My First Job

A Memory of Edenfield.

Just before I was due to leave Peel Brow I was called into Mr (Dinky) Booth's office and told that Turnbull & Stockdale were looking for an Office Boy and that he thought I would fit the bill. I attended an interview with Mr W Cunliffe and was given the job, starting early January 1945.

My job involved taking documents etc to the various mills in Stubbins and going to Ramsbottom's banks and the post office. A cycle was provided for this purpose.

T & S was quite a large concern with the following mills: Rosebank, Cuba, Croft, Edenwood and Chatterton Weaving Shed. Directors were W. Turnbull, W. Turnbull Jnr, R. Turnbull, J. Turnbull. E. Turnbull., Major Cain and (I think) T. Cain.

Other Senior positions included W. Cunliffe, Co Secretary, J Longworth, C Parker, F. Shaw, with apologies to the many other managers and foremen employed at that time.

After about 2 years I was moved up into the general office, Mr Astley the cashier being in charge with Miss Alice Taylor chief clerk. Also in the office at that time were Shirley Hartwell, Mona Gregson, Annie Brooks and myself.

To revert back to when I started work...my commencing wage was £1.9s.7d for the basic 45 hour week, however my hours amounted to 50 hours for which I was paid overtime. When I joined the general office I then worked normal office hours.

Some time later Mr Cunliffe who was a Cost & Works Accountant asked me if I would like to study for this examination, the company would pay all my fees and allow me time off to attend Guest's College in Blackburn where I would be brought up to prelim exam standard. I attended 2 afternoons a week and obtained exemption from the prelim exam.

The next part of my studies didn't run as smoothly due to the lack of suitable tutors. For a few weeks I attended evening classes with a Mr E Butterworth who had to give up due to ill health, no relacement could be found! The only way, and also the most common, was now to take a correspondence course and it was decided that the Metropolitan College St Albans was the best available.

I remained with T&S until 1953 and became an ACWA in 1956.

I was sorry to leave but they could not offer me any immediate prospects in the costing field, but I am forever grateful for all the help they gave me.