Looking Back To Treats Enjoyed By Staff Of Drummond Bros

Published on: 31 Aug, 2015
Updated on: 31 Aug, 2015

Regular Guildford Dragon reader John Lomas lives in Lancashire, but grew up in Guildford. His father worked for machine tool makers Drummond Bros at its factory in Rydes Hill. Here he writes about his father and his own memories of the firm including its staff outings and children’s Christmas parties.

My father Jack Lomas came to Guildford, to work for Drummonds, from Bristol in 1937 and then brought my mother here in 1938 when they married.

He was a marker off, which I have always described to others as a three-dimensional draughtsman. This is because he transcribed from the blueprints on to castings and other pieces of raw metal the relevant points for machining, such as centres and faces, so that the machinists could set the pieces correctly on their machines.

He told me that during the war they worked long shifts, from before breakfast through morning, afternoon and into the evening; but they also had time for their Home Guard duties which on some occasions involved patrolling the hill above the railway tunnel at St Catherine’s, and also fire watching.

Adults pictured at Drummond’s social club – a wooden building that was opposite the factory in Broadstreet. Perhaps the occasion was a dance night. Click on any image to enlarge – then back arrow on your browser to return to the story.

My memories really start after the war when the social club on the opposite side of Broadstreet from the works became a centre for all sorts of activities.

Members of Drummond Bros staff line up for a photo. Can anyone name some of the faces?

My father spent some time helping out on these, so I was often the youngest there when, for instance, during the 1950s there were whist drives and social dances.

Children’s Christmas party sometime between 1945-56. Anyone look familiar?

He was also involved in running the children’s Christmas parties and acted as MC “Uncle Jack” always in fancy dress and organising the games and kazoo bands, etc.

The sign on the beam suggests this party took place in January 1952.

Christmas party entertainers. Jack Lomas is wearing the pointed hat!

I don’t remember a football team, but there was certainly a cricket team which played on Stoughton recreation ground, and of course for away matches at various villages around the area.

Children enjoy a Christmas party. John says the cowboy was an imported professional entertainer.

We had many awayday coach trips with either YBS or Cookes Coaches, usually to the seaside at Bognor Regis, Worthing, Brighton, and so on.

The big summer outing often went further afield and often featured a chartered train working.

I can remember Margate one year, Bournemouth and Weymouth, and of course Portsmouth and Southsea, with the Isle of Wight ferry if you wanted to go further.

There were also evening trips to London theatres and sporting events such as ice hockey.

Drummond Bros cricket team pictured in Stoughton recreation ground. Jack Lomas is third from right in the back row. John Lomas recognise an number of the faces can’t name any, but says the umpire lived in Gravetts Lane.

I also remember trips to a machine tool show where the company had a stand and the Ideal Home Exhibition. These would have been at Olympia or Earls Court.

During the late 1950s and early 1960s there was a drama group putting on farces such as Phillip King’s Sailor Beware and Watch It Sailor and also J.B.Priestley’s An Inspector Calls.

Every summer there was always a horticultural show with the usual flower and veg classes and also cake making, along with classes for the children such as model making, miniature gardens and wild flower displays. Latterly there was also a photographic display after the company made its darkroom available to club members.

If you recognise any of the faces and can perhaps add some names, or have memories of Drummond Bros, either working for the firm or its social activities, please leave a reply in the box below.

Responses to Looking Back To Treats Enjoyed By Staff Of Drummond Bros

Mike Melbourne Reply

September 1, 2015 at 10:30 am

My grandparents moved from Coventry to Guildford seeking work after being bombed during the war.

My grandfather Albert Shortland worked at Drummond Bros for a while.

My mother met my dad married and settled in Guildford but my grandparents moved back to the Midlands to return to the motor industry.

In my early years we lived in a prefab at Egerton Close, I can still remember my grandparents coming to see us on their motorbike.
- Nick Hazell Reply
  
  May 3, 2020 at 8:17 am
  
  I was just looking at various articles about Drummond factory when I saw Mike Melbourne’s name and his comment about his grandfather working at the factory.
  
  I would like to ask him is he the same Mike Melbourne who lived in Cabell Road, later in Applegarth Avenue and had a brother called Alan? The reason I ask is I used to live in Park Barn and used to trainspot with a Mick Melbourne back in the early 1960s. I wonder if he is the same person?
  
  I have lived here in Australia since the early 1970s and would be interested to hear from Mike.
  - Michael Melbourne Reply
    
    May 4, 2020 at 4:26 pm
    
    Yes, I am the same Mike Melbourne that lived in Cabell Road later in Applegarth Avenue.
    
    I have lived worked and retired in Guildford all of my life.
    
    I would like to make contact with Nick Hazell after all these years.
    
    David Rose adds: We will put you in contact with each other.
Alan Hammond Reply

September 3, 2015 at 4:22 pm

I was an apprentice 1952-57.

I started off for two weeks on the burr bench,before moving on to marking out, where I met John Lomas’ father.

I only spent a couple of weeks here before moving on to the gear shaping department.

I did go on at least two train outings the sports club put on.

Drummonds supplied all its shop floor workers and the drawing office with three sets of coats, or boilers suits free.

White ones were for the drawing office and demonstrators, grey for foremen, and brown for all the rest.

Your father wore a brown coat.

We were encouraged to buy our own tools, and the company, let us have them at half cost price.

It was a lovely firm to work for and I was very sorry when it closed, making 200 redundant initially (including me), and the remander once the existing orders had been fullfilled.
John Lomas Reply

September 4, 2015 at 11:11 am

I had forgotten the different coloured overalls that Alan mentions.

I worked in the cost office for a while and had a brown one for when my duties took me into the stores for the continuous stock checks which we made.

It was good to hear from someone who remembers dad; he eventually got a foreman’s grey overall.

The social club building was also the works canteen at lunch time. I believe during the war they may have also served breakfasts and teas because of early starts and late overtime finishes.
Peter Jackson Reply

April 7, 2016 at 1:34 pm

In reply to John Lomas:

I remember your dad well. I worked under him when he was foreman of the drilling and marking out departments.

I started working at Drummonds at the end of 1953 until I was called up for national service. I later resumed employment back at Drummonds, where the foreman was Fred Garland. Your dad took over when Fred died.

I remember your dad leaving to go into, I believe retail. He never seemed to get ruffled at all, in my view a really nice man.

I certainly recognise a few faces in the first two photos – the others do tend to get forgotten with the passage of time.

The firm altered its pay structure around 1970 which annoyed me so I left and went to Dennis’s where I stayed for a couple of years.

I then moved to Leicestershire where I still live.

I enjoyed my years at Drummond’s for the time, working conditions and facilities were excellent.

I am pleased I discovered the Dragon and your article. It certainly aroused quite a few memories.

Searching my memory as I write this I can visualise you hurrying around the shop floor.

My best wishes to you.
Jim Cousins Reply

July 16, 2018 at 6:53 pm

I’m researching my late father who worked at Drummond Brothers and came across this article quite recently.

My father – also Jim Cousins from nearby Wood Street Village – worked at Drummond Brothers but died very young in 1956 when I was still a young boy.

My sisters and I went to the children’s Christmas parties and I have 1953 version of the picture shown in the article.

I’m now trying to trace anyone who knew my dad as I’d love to find out more about his work at Drummonds.
Pete Jackson Reply

July 17, 2019 at 2:45 pm

In response to Jim Cousins, I vaguely remember his dad; he worked in the inspection dept. I can’t tell Jim too much about him, at the time I was a bolshie teenager! I worked in the tool stores at the time your dad was very friendly with the guy in charge.

He used to often come in and have chat with him (his name was Ernie Ramsey). I can remember when your dad, Jim, died. It caused quite a shock in the works as your dad was well-liked.
Yvette Aldridge Reply

February 26, 2020 at 6:42 pm

In the photo of the party with the cowboy entertainer, does anyone know what year this was?

I am almost certain that one of my brothers is in the front row. If so then the year would be around 1966-1970.
Simon Gould Reply

March 10, 2021 at 6:57 pm

My dad, Dave Gould, is first on the left, front row, of the cricket photo. Can anyone remember my dad at Drummonds?
Edward Monger Reply

April 25, 2021 at 11:26 am

I am son of A. L. Monger who was mentioned by Mr Lomas in a 2020 story.

My phone no is 07738 229997.

I have all the information of A. L. Monger. I hope to hear from you.

David Rose replies: The story this was tagged to is not the one in which A. L. Monger features. It is: https://guildford-dragon.com/2020/06/21/uncovering-the-story-of-motor-racing-driver-w-a-cuthbert-and-his-guildford-connections/
David Sparkes Reply

April 16, 2024 at 11:05 am

My first job was on the fitting bench assembling all types of Drummond’s machines.

Next step was on the Demonstration Department We installed several machines into Wellworthy’s Pistons and Fords to name a couple.

I then visited UFA, Russia for several two-month trips where we installed a large FMS for piston liners in a large car plant.

In 1973 I left to pursue my career and went into machine tool sales.

I went back to Drummonds in 1977 to join their new Sales Department where I covered half the UK and United States. I was based in Chicago USA with my family for nine months to pursue Drummond machine tool sales.

In 1981 Staveley Macine Tools closed Drummonds in the UK and I was made redundant (a sad day).

I enjoyed many happy years at Drummonds and my children loved the Christmas parties.