Sometime during the end of 1971 I was invited or it was suggested I take a vacancy in the Manufacturing Laboratory. I don't recall how that came about.
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| I wasn't always old! -1971 |
For the first few months I remained "on the clock" before going on salary.
I think there was a shift system of day work and nights but, before long it became 12 hour shifts, days or nights, two days on, three off, three on two off. Working thru those on each shift, (there were two gangs) nights came around every third week as far as I remember.
Night shift was covered by one person.
It was a good system.
The Manufacturing lab responsibilities:
As products were in process they were tested at regular(!) intervals for quality.
New milk, (fat and water) skimmed milk, butter cream, butter fat, clotted cream, powdered milk, skimmed or full fat, Condensery products for solids, clotted cream for fat content and visual appeal, bulk butter for sampling, again for fat and texture. UHT milk, Clover and Roller Powder.
Other work was testing of water samples from the roof condensers and from the effluent plant - COD's (Chemical Oxygen Demand) and BOD's (Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand)
Since the dairy was beside a river it was important to know how much spillage was processed so as not to incur the wrath of the River authority.
Samples were taken regularly from the factory boilers to test for correct addition of chemicals for optimum maintenance of the same.
Starting at 6am or pm (nights of course) each member on the shift would decide which section of work to monitor. There were, as I remember, three on day shift with two, sometimes three or more on from 8am - 4.30pm.
On most occasions the night man would collect and prep last minute samples for the day shift before he went home. This could be a big help.
The Bacti lab had three or more on weekdays, 8:30am - 4:30pm with, if I remember, one at the weekends. The Bacti lab. took care of the safety and quality of manufactured products.
The Man. Lab afforded new possibilities. It was next to the Bacti Lab!
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| Tarbuk taps the window & Margaret Jones looks up from plating out - 1972 |
Farmers Lab.  |
| Farmers lab about 1980 - photo Torrington Museum. Ruby March, Sue Mills, Kitty Hockin, Lorraine Baker & Kathy Murch. |
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| The Dock & Sue Mills, the last day of churns. Photo: Beaford Archive |
I can confidently say that all of us, that is both shift teams, made working as much fun as possible. I was no exception.
For an explanation please visit the Blog Page entitled "LABORATORY Shenanigans".
When I came to the dairy I was not what may be described as "a drinker". You could not realistically leave your shift, on the separator floor, to cross the road to the (very handy) Torridge Inn for a quick pint or two (or more).
Some on day work were able to clock out at, say, lunch time, and have a quick one.
However, once in the lab, and more especially when on nights (on your own) and not having to clock in or out, the Torridge Inn became a focal point for a bevvy and, during my 13 years in the lab, there were more than a few occasions where a thick head blurred the work process.
Sometime in 1972 my old school pal, Paddy Roe, joined the man. lab. Pat was a keen sportsman. He had been in the rugby and cricket firsts while at school and played cricket for Newton Tracey (I think)
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| My mate & drinking partner, Remembering Roger Talbot. (photo - Bob Friendship collection.) |
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| Pat - the photo says it all? |
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| Weekend gathering in the Torridge, 1972 L-R: Graham Bell, Eddie Heath (barely visible) Roger Talbot, Rod Brent, Jean Lucas, Sandra Lloyd, Fran Duncan & Christine Gilbert. (photo: Bob Friendship collection) |
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| Click to enlarge -the labels explain - 1972 |
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| 6 pm on a sunny Sunday 1972. Tarbuk (Roger Talbot) about to set off home in his Sebring Austin Healey Sprite. (It could drive itself if he had had too much Cy!😂) (photo: Bob Friendship collection.) |
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| Fran Duncan - 1972 Remembering Fran Duncan. |
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| an unsuspecting Karen - (photo Bob Friendship collection) |
I discovered the magic of "Black 'Andle" Taunton rough cyder or perhaps I might say it discovered me.
Black 'Andle was just that, the pump handle with which Johnny Williams delivered the beverage for, then about 8 old pence a pint, this before entry into the "Common Market" soon after which those at Brussels decided that cyder was a wine and the price quadrupled in similar fashion.
It still delivered good value giving, as a scots pal of mine once chortled,
"Hey Bob, ken I dinney like yer cy but it gives the desired effect!".
As I asserted in my Home page, the dairy was not just a work place but a social hub and it's close proximity to the pub was an amalgam that made the whole business more enjoyable though it must be said that it did not find approval with management which, of course, was fair enough. I concede that I was "persona absentia" on many occasions when I should have been at my post, getting on with the job. In fact I was laid off three times, I think, and had to grovel my way back into the system.
If you're reading this, Dave, I well remember your words to me "Trouble is Bob, you're full of Sorrys." I knew this of course. (mumble!, grovel, mumble!)
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| Dave Stone. I stretched his kind disposition to the limit |
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| Rolf Redaway, assistant lab manager - 1972 |
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| Eddie Heath aka "The Kid" - 1972 photo: Bob Friendship collection |
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| Alan "Prouser" Prouse - 1972 photo: Bob Friendship collection |
It should go on record that those in charge were really descent and had a flexible approach to most times when a sacking would have been on the cards. Margaret Gilliland, who took over managing the labs from Bob Elkins, was respected not just for her knowledge of the dairy industry but for the fact that she could handle any of us with one arm.
One sunny Saturday my gang were taking in the "essence" at the Torridge and our 30 minute lunch break was nearing an hour. Through the pub window "Gilly" could be observed marching towards the pub. Mass exodus became necessary. I fled via the pubs' back garden, across the main road and into the dairy via the door to the separator floor.
What could I do? "Gilly" was snorting when she got back to her office and I received an appropriate dressing down.
Truthfully, she was alright and accommodated our "Shenanigans" more often than not.
I met her once after her retirement and noted she had not forgotten me. 😒
Fair to say, though, when I left the dairy in 1985 she must have given a huge sigh of relief.
As my old drinking mate and co-lab worker Ted "Rupert" Taylor often predicted.
"Friendship, when you leave they'll 'ang the flags aht!"
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| "Just one more!" 1977 He was 30 years my senior but wonderful company. Remembering Ted "Rupert, Bollicky" Taylor, 2001 |
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| Ted calling the Anhdro - 1977 |
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| "Ah, Natch, proper". Tommy Parish looks on - 1977 |
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| "Sandy" (Lloyd) - 1972 Remembering Sandra |
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| A sunny Sunday pm., 1972. Valerie Lake looks on as June Bennet enjoys an ice cream. Remembering June, - June 20th. 2023 |
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| Rosie Dowson. |
One morning, in Mill Street, Bideford, I bumped into our dairy manager, Brian Bence.
I had recently returned from Cannington College of Horticulture & Agriculture where I had been sent to gain (and was successful) certification in Dairy Technology. This during 1979/80.
(Lab work-mate Graham Hills also attended).
He greeted me and congratulated me on my achievement.
I took the opportunity to ask him why he had not fired me due to my shenanigans.
With a sideways grin he replied "the place wouldn't be the same without you Bob."
I was taken aback by what he had said.
I thought it really generous of him.
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| Brian Bence. Remembering Brian Bence. ( photo: Torrington Museum.) |
God rest your soul, Brian.
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