Luton, The Vauxhall Motors Canteen c.1950
Photo ref:
L117034
More about this scene
In spite of its large empire, Britain was badly prepared for war. However, it was amazing how well folk improvised. Work was hard. Normal hours at Vauxhall were 46.5 in the factory and 40.5 in the office. They operated four staggered shifts, with half an hour for lunch and tea and two ten-minute tea breaks. Inevitably labour relations all around became strained. Shortages led to the Vauxhall scheme to take on young men of 14 to 16 years of age, with a view to developing their potential at technical college. Luton's gas company made tar for airfield runways. The local airfield, with its attendant aircraft firms, became an RAF station and a base for aircraft manufacture – indeed, some of the famous Mosquito fighter bombers were built there. The airfield was a base for B Flight, RAF 264 Squadron.
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