Z1205/155

Male. Head of Kiln Research, brick company. b. 14.05.1931 SIDE A (00 mins)Born in Rothwell, Northamptonshire. Keen on science at school. After school, did National Service in Royal Air Force. (05 mins)Aged 20, joined London brick Co. as laboratory assistant in the Kiln Dept. at Stewartby. Work on flue design, chimneys and the general operation of the kiln. (10 mins)Kiln temperature still decided by eye, instead of by instruments. Research into the drying and firing of the war, Began using thermo-couples to measure the kiln temperature. European displaced workers housed in Elstow storage depot. 26 brick works, not counting Marston and Eastwoods' sites. (15 mins)Energy research. Sites and their clays. 40 people in research department at one time. Became Head of Department over 10 or 12. (20 mins)Because the research department was there, innovations were tested first at Stewartby. Upset among workforce, as brickmaking declined at Stewartby. Model kiln, No.22, was built at Stewartby in 1962. New kilns at Kings Dyke and Saxon in Peterborough. More efficient, less labour-intensive. (25 mins)Downturn in brick production nationally. Hanson took over London Brick. Work's Social and Sports Club at Stewartby. Sports days. (30 mins)Sports teams. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDEB (00 mins)In Air Training Corps at school. Keen on weather studies and thought about joining Meteorological Office. Stayed at Hanson brick works, Stewartby, until 1991. Then did some consultancy work. (05 mins)Reflections on the uncertainty of job security in early years of the 21st. Century. Day release part-time higher education to National and Higher National Certificate & Diploma level (degree equivalent), paid for by the brick company. (10 mins)Liaised with air pollution inspectorate regarding emission from chimneys. Worked to reduce pollutants. Overseas work, designing brick factories in Iran and Swaziland. Reduction in pollution since closure of most of the brickworks in the Vale. (15 mins)Involved in early landfill work by London Brick in L field, taking water and gas samples for the chemistry department to analyse. Reflections on land fill and the siting of housing. (20 mins)Planning rejection of plan for a new brick works built down the bottom of a clay pit. (21 mins)End of Side B END OF INTERVIEW. Original Interview 50 mins.

4 September 2002

From: 1925 To: 2002

item

London Brick Company,
Marston Valley Brickworks,
Eastwood Flettons Brick Company,
Hanson Brick Limited

Royal Air Force, chimneys, brick worker, Leisure, Air Training Corps, meteorology, EDUCATION, pollution, landfill, HOUSING, plans, STEWARTBY, Rothwell [Northamptonshire], Elstow Storage Depot, Peterborough, Iran, Swaziland