Colourful times at Co-op paint works in the 1950s

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Roy Millward, of Derby, spent 15 happy years working in the laboratory of the Co-op paint works from 1948-63. Here he recalls some of his colleagues and wonders if they are still around.

Above: CWS laboratory staff, from left: Bob Sheldon, Ron Bowler, Roy Millward

Reading the interesting article by Keith Rogers about his Halcyon days at the Co-op paint works in the 1960s brought back my own memories of my time in the laboratory of the CWS paint works.

I started my employment there on leaving school in 1948, at 17 years of age, on a starting salary of £2 8s 3d (£2.41) per week rising to £4 18s (£4.90) at 21 years of age.

The working week was 7.45am until 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Fortunately salary and hours were to improve greatly during the ensuing years. I left the CWS after 15 happy years, although two years were taken out to serve my National Service in the RAF.

The chief chemist at that time was Stan Francis, who was also well known as a talented local table tennis player.

Next in line came the senior chemists – Ernie Jeffrey, Norman Ballard, John Sharrock and Les Edmunds. The assistants were Derek Spencer, Alan Short, John Ward, Ron Bowler, Brian Cryer and myself.

As we had to do two years National Service, they had to set on more assistants, so Len Moore, Joe Tomlinson, Terry Memmory, Bob Sheldon, Arnie Parr and Brian Birks joined the staff.

The laboratory had many responsibilities from the quality testing of raw materials, formulation of paints, testing of the finished product to the development of new products.

I still have some treasured photographs of some of the laboratory staff posing on the factory roof and one of myself with two girls from the filling floor.

One of these girls is Winnie Stubbs (nee Johnson) whose husband, Bill, was also employed in the factory. I believe they became the proud parents of twins. The other on the photo is Ethel Sims, whose brother, Peter, was also an employee.

My time there ended in 1963. Only a few years later, the factory closed down completely and the laboratory staff became widely dispersed across the country.

Some stayed in the paint industry in other parts of the country, while others changed industry but remained in the Derby area.

I came across Derek Spencer in Ashby where he was landlord of a pub, but that was about 25 years ago.

I wonder where they all are today? I would love to hear from any of them who read this. My e-mail is: jeangmillward@aol.com

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