Steelway Article E & S 30.12.10 Carl Chinn Page 2
1
In partnership with www.expressandstar.com/motors Express & Star, Thursday December 30, 2010 23 The story of an important area lifetime with led the way such products. During the Second World War, it went over to war work and was involved in the manufacture of stretchers for injured personnel and was a member of the National Scheme for Disabled Men. Many of the workers who left to fight in the war effort returned to their original positions with the com- ing of peace. After the war, Steelway consoli- dated its reputation and provided open mesh flooring to the Z Cars TV series, and stages, sets and grating to the James Bond films On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Dia- monds Are Forever. Today the company has two manu- facturing plants, one each in Wolver- hampton and West Bromwich, and employs more than 175 workers. They are involved in high quality manufacturing: from making metal flooring, walkways, railings and stairs for waterworks, nuclear power sta- tions, railways and factories to carry- ing out spectacular restoration projects like the rebuild of a century- old Great Western Railway turntable as the centrepiece of a visitor attrac- tion in Minehead. Shirley Walpole was delighted to read about the company because her father “John Gibbons (known as Jack) worked at Steelway from the age of fourteen until he retired at 65. “He was born in 1915, and died in 1993. He was a rivetter. “My father often spoke of the bar- riers in Princes Square, and of mak- ing flooring and railings for some of the James Bond films including Dia- monds Are Forever’.” Shirley has kindly sent in a number of evocative photos of her dad’s life at Steelway. Write to Carl HAVE you a story to share about the Black Country? If so, drop Carl a note. If you have a tale to tell, a memory to pass on or a photo to share then write to Carl c/o The Editor, Ex- press & Star, Queen Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1ES. All photos will be scanned immediately at the Express & Star of- fices and returned as quickly as possible. You can also e-mail Carl at [email protected]. co.uk You can hear Carl Chinn on Sunday on BBC WM 95.6 FM between 10am and 1pm Above, Steel- way barriers ready for the coronation of King George VI in London in 1937 Right, Shirley’s father, Jack, with his work- mates, not long after he started work at Steelway. He is second from the right on the back row. Left, Jack is on the right at the back of this photo taken in his younger days Jack, centre back, and his workmates in a car at Blackpool in 1950. The man driving the car was Arthur Fieldhouse and the chap sitting at the back on the right was Joe Weaver. Steelway barriers at the Cenotaph in London in the late 1930s. The system had won high praise.
-
Upload
steelway-fensecure-ltd -
Category
News & Politics
-
view
269 -
download
4
description
Article on Steelway by Prof. Carl Chinn - Express and Star page 2 of 2
Transcript of Steelway Article E & S 30.12.10 Carl Chinn Page 2
9 out of 10 cars on motors.co.uk have been history checked.
where free history check makes sure car’shistory is as clean as pebble from stream.
Find peace of mind, not piece of scrap.
In partnership with www.expressandstar.com/motors
Express & Star, Thursday December 30, 2010 23
The story of an important area
lifetime withled the waysuch products. During the SecondWorld War, it went over to war workand was involved in the manufactureof stretchers for injured personneland was a member of the NationalScheme for Disabled Men.
Many of the workers who left tofight in the war effort returned totheir original positions with the com-ing of peace.
After the war, Steelway consoli-dated its reputation and providedopen mesh flooring to the Z Cars TVseries, and stages, sets and grating tothe James Bond films On HerMajesty’s Secret Service and Dia-monds Are Forever.
Today the company has two manu-facturing plants, one each in Wolver-hampton and West Bromwich, andemploys more than 175 workers.
They are involved in high qualitymanufacturing: from making metalflooring, walkways, railings and stairsfor waterworks, nuclear power sta-tions, railways and factories to carry-ing out spectacular restorationprojects like the rebuild of a century-old Great Western Railway turntableas the centrepiece of a visitor attrac-tion in Minehead.
Shirley Walpole was delighted toread about the company because herfather “John Gibbons (known asJack) worked at Steelway from theage of fourteen until he retired at 65.
“He was born in 1915, and died in1993. He was a rivetter.
“My father often spoke of the bar-riers in Princes Square, and of mak-ing flooring and railings for some ofthe James Bond films including Dia-monds Are Forever’.”
Shirley has kindly sent in a numberof evocative photos of her dad’s life atSteelway.
Write to CarlHAVE you a story to shareabout the Black Country?If so, drop Carl a note. Ifyou have a tale to tell, amemory to pass on or aphoto to share then writeto Carl c/o The Editor, Ex-
press & Star, QueenStreet, Wolverhampton,WV1 1ES. All photos willbe scanned immediatelyat the Express & Star of-
fices and returned asquickly as possible. Youcan also e-mail Carl at
You can hear Carl Chinnon Sunday on BBC WM95.6 FM between 10am
and 1pm
Above, Steel-way barriersready for thecoronation ofKing George VIin London in1937
Right, Shirley’sfather, Jack,
with his work-mates, not long
after hestarted work atSteelway. He is
second fromthe right on
the back row.
Left, Jack is onthe right at theback of thisphoto taken inhis youngerdays
Jack, centre back, and his workmates in a car at Blackpool in 1950. The mandriving the car was Arthur Fieldhouse and the chap sitting at the
back on the right was Joe Weaver.
Steelway barriers at the Cenotaph in London in the late 1930s. The system had won high praise.
