Old Industry , Canteens and Wrestling

A few years ago I found a bill and it made me chuckle , John Browns Shipyard Canteen. I guess it was a great idea. This shipyard in Clyde built , the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary and was one of the biggest firms for shipbuilding in the world. From about 1850 it was providing jobs and at it's peak on a massive scale. In it's time Britain was booming. In 1972 , an evening night out for a couple of quid , dinner dance and wrestling as entertainment.

Got to thinking I had seen all this before. Remember the Foden Lorries , there were plenty about when I was a kid , in fact I think my uncle had a couple as he was a coal man. Foden's again were a big British industry and had a place in Sandbach. They even had a famous Brass Band. Those were the days

1965 and a night out in the Canteen at Foden Motor Works seven shillings and six pence or five bob.

Mid sixties again and back up to Scotland and Bathgate. BMC was the British Motor Company , big new venture built in Bathgate , think it specialised in Tractors and heavy machines of that ilk, Another massive employer Nights out in their canteen were from about ten shillings downwards in good old Britain.

Shame the match in 1966 with Nagasaki got cancelled. It was one of those shows before he had unmasked Bartelli and gone to the next level. Mc Manus even got up there and never short of local boys like George Kidd , Purvey and Campbell, McKenzie and Bill Ross.

But even earlier during the war , 1943 there was a factory Ransome and Marles in Newark. It was another big employer , massive in ball bearings for aircrafts even during the first world war. This firm had it's own Football club that played at a good standard. Played the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup.

Wrestling in the canteen for as little as two shillings and it was even shown at two o'clock in the afternoon to raise funds for the RAF Benevolent scheme.

In 1941 the Germans knew about this factory and bombed it. 41 people were killed. Such was it's importance. Wrestling also took place on the Firms Sports Field in 1944.

Yes , Canteens , A collection , if I get any more I will add then into this thread.

Just a nice slice of nostalgia. Good old Britain when it had proper factories.