The New Marksman Newsletter

The Online Version of the New Marksman ~ Summer Issue

The 2008 Dinner Dance was the held in March at the Civic Centre, Mansfield.

The event was well organized and proved to be as popular as ever with over 275 guests attending.

Quote from one of the guests on her first visit, - “The occasion was great and meeting old friends who I have not seen for years was wonderful - I will be back next year”

This magazine aims to give news and information about the Baily Thomas Provident fund and the existing Sports and Social activities of ex Mansfield Brewery personnel.

The Baily Thomas Provident Trust funds the magazine but comments and articles of interest from you the beneficiaries will be most welcome.

Closing date for information to be included in the next issue: May 2008

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this publication

The Last Board of Directors

Paul Handley, Bill McCosh, Vic Steel, Colin Stump, Darrell Stocks, John Hare.

• Mr Bill McCosh , Managing Director October 1991,
• Paul Handley, Financial Director December 1989.
• Vic Steel, Non- Executive Director.
• Colin Stump, Marketing Director June 1989
• Darrell Stocks, Retail Director August 1995
• John Hare, Company Secretary June 1989.
• Sir David White retired in August 1999 as Chairman. Not in the photograph.

 

Supervisors’ weekend outing to Hook Norton Brewery

Kev Hall, Peter Featherstone, George Roe, John Bartle, Roy Thorpe, John Else, Ken Smith, Graham Cooling, Terry Johnson, Ian Boucher, Geoff Speigt, David Bradley, Graham Kinder.

This year the Brewery Supervisors visited the Hook Norton Brewery near Banbury, Oxon. The weekend included a guided tour of the Heritage Motor Centre in Gayton, and also a 4x4 off road driving experience.

YOU’VE HEARD OF “ BOGOF” - NOW YOU CAN QUALIFY FOR V.A.T. OFF!

Over-60s who need to adapt their home to enable them to continue living there can benefit from a reduced VAT rate of 5% or even VAT exemption.

Last November I decided that because osteoarthritis was making it difficult for me to get in and out of the bath I would have the bath removed and a walk in shower installed.

Whilst obtaining quotes for the job I was informed that because I had a condition that would deteriorate, by modifying the bathroom to accommodate the condition I was entitled to VAT relief on all parts and labour required for the modification.

The work must be carried out by a professional. Aids such as sit down showers, grab rails and stair lifts qualify. D.I.Y. installation is not included.

I contacted the Inland Revenue for advice and they confirmed my entitlement. I saved over £350.

Remember! if you have a disabling condition and you need to carry out alterations, mention it to the installer, any professional should be aware of the facts.

Alternatively contact the Charities helpline on 0845 302 0203, choosing option 3, or email your enquiry to charities@hmrc.gov.uk

Regards to all,
Lawrie Birch.
Lawrie worked at Mandora and Mansfield Brewery.

Gone Fishing - A Fisherman’s Tale

The Mansfield Brewery Angling Club was one of the friendliest clubs that any angler could join and appealed to all members of the family.

This group photograph was taken at the end of a fishing match on the river Trent some time in the 1980s. This particular match was organised by Robert Burton (front row. second left). Also on the front row stands Frank Hannah.

Mick Powell says “Frank looks a little tired. This is because he had an almighty battle with a six inch dudgeon and this left Frank totally spent! I had caught a very large tench.

The fish was so big that I decided to photograph it and it weighed three pounds. There will be those among us who do not think that a three pound tench is a very large fish. The truth of the matter is that this was not the weight of the fish - it was the photograph alone that weighed three pounds. The fish was far heavier!

Happy Fishing !
Mick Powell
(Mansfield Transport)

The Golden Couple

Dennis and Margaret Tasker celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary recently. They were married on 3rd April 1958 at St Aidan’s Church, Wheatley Hills, Doncaster and came to live in Ravenshead later that year. They moved to their present home in Berry Hill in 1965 before the birth of their 5th child in February 1966. All five children, three girls and two boys, still live in Mansfield. There are seven grandchildren

Dennis was born on 11th June 1929. He was the second of two boys. His father, Edgar, was an express train driver and keen pigeon fancier. Dennis, educated at Doncaster Grammar School for Boys, trained as an accountant in Doncaster and Leeds, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1953. In the same year he began working as Factory Accountant at Mansfield Shoe Company (part of the Norvic Group of Companies). He was made Financial Director in 1965 and subsequently became Assistant Managing Director with factories in Mansfield Woodhouse, Alfreton, Worksop, Derby and Wellingborough as well as in Mansfield, employing altogether about 2000 people; the majority of whom were female. When the Norvic Group declined into liquidation in 1980, Dennis suffered stress-related illness and took redundancy.

Various accountancy jobs followed until he had the good fortune to be taken on by John Else as Free Trades Loans Department clerk at Mansfield Brewery in May 1988. He spent an enjoyable 6 years working there before retiring on his 65th birthday. The pleasure that he knew there, matched that which he had enjoyed at Mansfield Shoe Company until the Norvic Group were taken over by asset strippers in 1971.

Margaret was born on 27th June 1933, the second of 4 children. Her father was Cashier at Thorne and Hatfield Collieries. She was educated at Doncaster Municipal High School for Girls and Gipsy Hill Training College in Surrey. She taught in Doncaster and London before marriage. After the birth of their youngest child, she continued her career in several Nottinghamshire schools. Her final working years were spent as Head Teacher of the Oliver Quibell Infant School in Newark. She retired shortly after Dennis and began a busy and happy retirement.

Ruby Wedding - Congratulations

Liz and Dick Baird were married at St John’s Registry Office, Mansfield in March 1968.

Their first home was in Mansfield Woodhouse and they then lived in Wakefield for 3 years before returning to Mansfield.

Liz and Dick celebrated the occasion with a party for family and friends. Liz worked in the laboratory at Mansfield Brewery.

 

Sue and Bob Longden were married in the snow on a cold day in January 1968.

They celebrated their Ruby anniversary with a party for their family and friends at the Masonic Hall in Mansfield. Two days later they flew to Florida with their family for a holiday in the sun. Whilst there Bob and Sue visited the Florida Keys.

Bob was employed as an electrician and Sue worked in cellar services at Mansfield Brewery.

BOALERS OF MANSFIELD

In the early 1900’s the population in Mansfield had risen to 31,560 from 7,800 in the early 1800’s and the railways were well established serving local industry.

The local supply of excellent moulding sand led inevitably to the establishment of iron founding, and this together with locally mined coal, textile manufacturing and all the auxiliary services kept the local population busy. All this activity resulted in an increase in the need for housing (320 houses were built in a village which became Forest Town). Infrastructure needed upgrading, road widening was undertaken and gas and water supplies were improved.

William G. Boaler saw a need in the area and with great motivation and commitment started the plumbing firm W.G. Boaler in 1909. The company was responsible for many plumbing and heating installations and was later involved in the installation and maintenance of beer pumps and pipe work.

In 1939 William was struck down with spinal meningitis, virtually unknown at that time. He was the second case in Mansfield and was confined for a long time in isolation in Forest Hospital Mansfield.

A request was made for his son Rex to leave school at 15 (he was delighted) to help run the business, with his sister running the office.

When war broke out the company was involved in the maintenance of water supplies and when The Moor in Sheffield was bombed they were there the following day helping to repair the damaged water supplies. As war progressed most of the staff went away except for one World War 1 veteran, Ernest Swindell, who along with Rex kept the business going. The staff returned after the war and the business continued to progress.

Rex’s son, Rex junior also joined the firm on leaving school. He saw an opening for a business to supply the needs of the licensing trade, supplying glassware and sundries and a separate unit dealing with this was opened. Pete Shephard, well known to many in the trade, was one of the first representatives and later Joe Skinner was also later appointed.

The firm flourished and when additional office staff was needed a young Pauline Dove joined the company. Rex Boaler Senior was always grateful for the work carried out by Pauline, particularly during a difficult period caused by the fraudulent activities of an employee.

In 1985 Mr Robin Chadburn arranged a meeting with Rex Boaler Senior and said he would like to buy the business. It was eventually taken over by Mansfield Brewery.

In 1992 a new business, R.B. Wholesale Ltd., was started by Rex Boaler junior and is still based on the Broadway in Mansfield.

R.B. Wholesale sells a wide range of materials and catering equipment to the license trade:

Bar Sundries / Ice Machines, Glass / Dishwashers, Crockery / Cutlery / Glassware, Janitorial Supplies / Disposables, Refrigeration.

 

In the early 1990 a number of long service awards were presented by Rex Boaler Senior

Tim Place plumber received a watch for his 15 years service and Steve Strauther plumber receives a colour television for his 25 years service

 

 

 

 

Master Plumber John Milner received his 25 years service award.

John started with Boalers in 1965 as an apprentice

 

 

 

Hull Wines and Spirits

Above: From the left, wines and spirits warehouse Fred Kavanangh; transport foreman Barry Scaife; FLT driver Peter Wilkinson; stocktakers Keith Scott and George Exelby ; office administration Norman Smawfield: trade quality control Ted Parks; wine and spirits Judy Dale; transport foreman Terry Shipley; FLT driver George Weston and Tony Reading; transport secretary Margaret Bradley; supervisor Dave Bradley; drayman Joe Ellerington; warehouseman Colin Dobson; FLT driver Tony Heaton and Barry Purden.

WHERE ARE THEY NOWTHE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Melanie Tagg

After leaving the Brewery Melanie joined Mansfield’s Fire and Rescue service in August 2001. She became secretary to the deputy Chief Fire Officer and then moved to serve as a Fire Control operator.

Melanie then worked as Administrator in the fire protection department for three years. She is now a Fire Protection Officer, visiting commercial premises, advising and ensuring that businesses are complying with the current legislation of the Fire Safety Order 2005 .

David Starkey 

Around 1967 David worked at The Coopers in Mansfield Woodhouse as Assistant Manager. He was then recruited by Shipstones and became Manager at The Holly Bush in Marehay near Ripley, returning to Mansfield in 1981 as Manager of The Mapplewells in Huthwaite.

He then joined the Mansfield Inns operation based at Rosemary Street, where he worked for a while as a stocktaker alongside Reg Skidmore, and later became Assistant Operations Manager. He eventually left leaving to become a technician for Rainbow International (carpet cleaning) in 1989/90 and is now a self employed Stocktaker/Valuer working in the Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire area.

Liz Boucher

Kings Mill Theatre staff voted Team of the year.

Liz Boucher (nee Storey) 5th from the left is a member of the Theatres and Theatre Recovery nursing team at Kings Mill Hospital. Over the years there have been many changes in the theatre department with many extra theatre sessions bring untaken without extra funding.

They are constantly reviewing ways by which the operating theatre can be more productive and keeping patient comfort and wellbeing paramount in the process.

Liz worked in the brewery laboratory up to the company closure.

Dance the years away

The 2008 Dinner Dance was held at Civic Centre Mansfield .

Maureen Wain and John Bennett Don Brown Karen Dalby Ron and Anna Tucker Betty Elliot Diane Auther and Ed Lewis Terry Eley Ian and Jean Timmons Geoff Dove Tim and Sue Richardson Rose and Mick Racey Brian and Lorraine Beebe

C 2 C Cycle Route (Coast to Coast)

A BIKE RIDE ACROSS THE “Roof of England ”

The next instalment

Whitehaven to Sunderland

The final chapter of the sponsored ride, on behalf of a mate of ours and The PBC Charity Foundation. By Kevin Hall and Peter Riley

Continued from Spring edition. Kevin and his mate Peter started the ride on Monday May 31 st. Whitehaven to Greystoke 46 miles, then onto Leadgate 27 miles, and 490 m above sea level.

Wednesday 2 June Leadgate to Shotley Bridge

7.30 am and a very nice breakfast with home made bread.

Sunshine and a very undulating route greeted our efforts to get the old legs moving – Pete’s daughter Emma works with physically disabled children and a colleague of hers is a herbalist. This lady had manufactured a muscle conditioning lotion for us and on this the third day I asked Pete if he minded if I rubbed it on my legs as the taste was making me feel ill. Progress was painful for the first few miles, onwards and upwards through Nentheads, along the very steep old mineral railway to the abandoned winding house.

Into Country Durham and over the highest part of the “Roof of England” - 609m above sea level. A ride of a further 10 to 12 miles along the Wasskerly Way and we arrive in Consett. What a brilliant ride!, beautiful scenery, the Angel of the North, somebody or others Folly and a tiny three-legged pony, leaning on the fence of a coral, who answered to the name of Hoppit.

Consett! What a beautiful little town. We proceed to wind our way vertically down hill into Shotley Bridge and arrived at the Crown and Crossed Swords Hotel. “Room 4, chaps” said the bar keeper and off we went. Upstairs and downstairs until, almost exhausted we arrived at our resting place for the night.

Spiders in various stages of decay adorned the once operative sliding sashes and the net curtains fell apart at the first touch. Take your pick of the bathroom - any one of three! I chose the one which had been decorated when Anaglypta was a young girl of seven. The pattern had condensation stains built in, but the water was hot.

Back up the hill for a pint and nosh then back down the hill for another pint and bed.

Thursday 3rd June Shotley Bridge to Sunderland

Guess what ”IT`S SPITTING”!!!!
Nice breakfast, packed lunch and on the road for 8.15am

First 150 yards nearly vertical but after we were bike-borne for the rest of the 28 mile ride into Sunderland. Another old railway line surfaced with cinders riddled with pot holes full of thick slurry, only seen before in an early episode of Quatermass, topped up with the various depths of the latest downpour. Gave up trying to avoid the puddles, instead set about achieving the lap record for long course slurry skating.

In less than 5 minutes we were absolutely covered from toe to head in self adhesive black ash super glue. Water was running out of our shoes, our socks were being pressure washed and the grit embodied in our shorts was rapidly removing skin, warts`n all, from our nether regions but the bikes were enjoying this last dash for home and the traditional paddle in the North Sea.

Sunderland marina is not the most affluent of facilities but allowed us to complete this epic adventure by “two old man on bikes”.

Approximately 140 miles and many hills and valleys encountered, lots of laughs fantastic camaraderie and respect for each other, would we do it again?

Yes - for some other good cause cos we’re like that

Obituaries

John Hare

John was born on 9th July 1947 within earshot of Bow Bells, making him a true cockney. A very generous person and highly professional throughout his career as Company Secretary with various companies. John was eventually head hunted by Mansfield Brewery and joined the company in 1989. He retired in 2000 when the company closed. John passed away on 12th April 2008 and leaves his wife Sally who he married in 1972

After the death of his wife, George took up dancing and he would go to dances in Clipstone. It was here he met his second wife Betty and in 1995 they married.

Betty Ridley

Betty Ridley died peacefully on March 7 th 2008 at the age of 88 in Scunthorpe General Hospital. Born in London, Betty worked at the Shellmex House and fire watched during the war. Betty led a full and happy life with her husband Harry (Mansfield Wines and Spirits Manager, retired); they married in December 1940 at St Andrew’s Church, Bromley. Always very active she enjoyed golf, (Ladies captain of Coxmoor G C 1970) gardening, painting languages, reading and crosswords.

Betty leaves a daughter Jill, son Russell, daughter- in- law Celia and two grandsons Harry James and Arnold Miles

Tony J. Burton

Tony Burton (66) was born and educated at Creswell and lived locally for 40 years. On leaving school, joined the Merchant Navy after which he served in the Royal Navy before working at Mansfield (Crown Farm) Colliery. Later he was employed in the hosiery industry before finally working for Mansfield Brewery until he retired. When at school he was a keen athlete and enjoyed cycling for North Notts Cycling Club, and he liked watching boxing and occasionally going to watch motor sport at Silverstone. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and with his friends. Tony leaves his wife Marion, his daughter and two grandchildren.

Stepping Out

Jean Crowder (Second left front row) is a member of the Harlequin School of Dance and recently appeared in the show "A Dream Come True" at the Palace Theatre in Mansfield. The show played to a full house for four nights in March.

Jean worked in the Personnel Department before moving to Customer Service at Mansfield Brewery.

Paris by Eurostar

A week-end break was organised to try the Eurostar experience from the newly re-furbished St. Pancras station. The journey began at Newark station on the East Coast line and was a straight forward and very easy trip arriving at Kings Cross on schedule.

After a short walk from Kings Cross station you enter the new and impressive St Pancras international station with all amenities, including the longest Champagne bar in Europe, numerous restaurants and a shopping mall with all the famous high street name shops, an ideal area for some retail therapy.

A statue of the famous poet Sir John Betjeman by Martin Jennings welcomes you at the platform level. Sir John was responsible in 1960 for saving both the St. Pancras Chambers and the station from demolition.

Under the famous St Pancras clock, reconstructed by the original makers Dent, stands a 9m high bronze statue called The Meeting Place by the sculptor Paul Day. The statue is an intimate pose of a couple embracing.

Paris is a city eager to be explored with its many attractions. The Eiffel Tower is an impressive structure and a wonderful back drop for photographs. The world famous Louvre art gallery with the Mona Lisa its star attraction, cruises on the river Seine to visit the 13th cent Notre-Dame de Paris with its gargoyles and its magnificent interior. In the evening find a cozy restaurant to finish of the day’s activities.

Boarding for the return journey at the Gard du Nord Paris station was an event. French customs no problem. UK customs scanned passports and examined every detail to ascertain we were suitable people to enter the U.K.!

The weekend was a total success with many happy memories.

A Time Served Craftsman

Wilfred Parr

Wilfred was born in Sutton in Ashfield and educated at the Hardwick Street school (now demolished). He left school at 14 and his first job was 10 miles away at the Raleigh bicycle works in Nottingham. To save one shilling a day rail fare he would cycle to work.

Realising that learning a trade is an advantage he became an apprentice joiner with Moores Builders, Mansfield (in 1936 this firm built the Sir John Cockle pub Mansfield). With the downturn in the building trade he moved to Benton Colliery at the age of 17. When the Second World War broke out he was exempt from the army as working in the pits was considered deferred work. However Wilf felt a responsibility to King and country, left the pit and within a month was called up into the army.

On joining he was posted to the Yorkshire Regiment and did his initial training near Brecon in Wales.

During this time he met Agnes and they married in June 1942. In the August he was deployed with the 67th Heavy Hack Hack anti-aircraft group to protect installations in Burma. The journey took him via Durban, South Africa, the Assam tea growing province in India and finally to Burma. To reach the regiment involved a very hazardous journey along a dangerously narrow mountain road with extremely tight bends. Wilf recalls that, as the radar operator, the lorry he was in had a large radar trailer attached and this could not get round a tight bend. An officer told them to get a move on or push the trailer over the side of the ravine, as it was holding a up miles of troops and if the Japanese attacked they would be sitting ducks! A further lorry was employed to pushed the rear end of the trailer round the bend and this was achieved successfully, relieving the congestion and allowing the journey to continue.

The Japanese had overrun Burma early in 1940. The 67 th was in an area occupied by Japanese forces and they were surrounded almost continuously for three and half years. Meanwhile Wilf had been transferred to mortars and was posted nearer to the front. During this time the brigade was supplied by air until finally the war in the east was ended when the Atom bombs were dropped on Japan.

In 1945 Wilf was demobbed and returned to married life and to Moores Builders to complete his interrupted joinery apprenticeship.

Around this time he met Arthur Tomlinson, manager of the brewery estates department who offered him a job as a joiner. He commenced work at the brewery, and retired in 1984, age 64.

Sadly, in August 2007 his wife Agnes died. They had been married for 65 years.

On holidays he and Agnes had fallen in love with Devon and they lived there for several years before returning to the Sutton area with their family - daughter Val and son Geoff.

Date for your Diary – Art Exhibition

Hello to you all

Just letting you know that I am having another exhibition of my paintings in the autumn. It will be on Saturday, 18th October from 10am to 4pm at the Cator Hall, Eakring.

Part of the proceeds will be going to Macmillan Cancer Support. There will be refreshments and a raffle and we are hoping to have a group of young musicians (yet to be confirmed) who will be providing light background music during the event

Anyway, must away, I have a painting I must finish

Best wishes.
Glenys Bradshaw

Long Services Awards

David Thompson Ernie Newbury Veronica Newbury
David Thompson Mark Talbert Debbie Swift

Ernie Newbury and Mark Talbert were invited to Wolverhampton to celebrate over 25 years long service awards (18 years Mansfield Brewery and 8years with Marstons) with their partners Veronica and Debbie. Marstons provided them with 5 star accommodation, a special celebratory dinner, and a gift of £250 of Marks and Spencer’s vouchers. The presentation was presented by David Thompson Chairman of Marstons PLC.

Unfortunately Chris Newton (25 years) and John Lewis (40 years) (R.L.Jones, Mandora, Mansfield Brewery and Marstons PLC) who were due to receive their long service awards were unable to attend.

Archway Wedding Photography - Ernie Newbury

Wedding photography is a speciality and is an opportunity that Ernie Newbury enjoys. He recently started this small photographic business in a professional capacity to give advice and capture this very special occasion with his camera.

Easter Sunday 2008

The Mansfield Brewery walking group brave the blizzard in Norfolk.

Mandora

Beaches Production Team

Remember this photograph taken in 1981 of the production team at the Mandora Beaches soft drink factory at Evesham

I am putting together a definitive history of Mandora, Beaches and Bellamys, and would appreciate any photographs , memories and any other information of the companies.

The Camera and The Flower - Martin Needham

Flowers are easy to photograph; they don’t move and you can get close to them! A few simple tips will help you make the best use of your camera for photographing flowers.

‘Automatic’ or ‘program’ modes will let your camera select the best combination of speed and aperture to give the correct exposure. If your camera has it, use the setting called ‘aperture priority’ as this will control the depth of field for better results.

The aperture size governs how large the depth of field will be. Large aperture gives a small depth of field. Small aperture gives a large depth of field. For sweeping borders use a small aperture.

For single flowers use a large aperture. Aperture values are referred to as ¬f numbers` (2.5 5.6 etc). Check your camera manual to see how to set them. Confusingly small aperture will be large ‘f numbers’ and small ‘f numbers’ will have small ‘f numbers’.

The camera will set the shutter speed to make sure the aperture is correct. For aperture, though, the shutter speed may be quite long, so to take the sharpest pictures use a tripod or another firm support. If you haven’t a tripod, find something to rest your arms on near the flower or view which you are taking. You can also reduce camera shake by setting the self-timer on your camera. It’s surprising how much the camera shakes when people actually press the shutter.

Finally, for digital camera owners, set your recoded pixels e.g. 640 x480, to as high as possible. The final image will look better and print to larger sizes for display.

Happy Snapping !

The End of An Era !

The Mansfield Brewery site has been derelict since its closure in 2002.

The 6.1-acre site has been a target for vandals and thieves over the past few years and has suffered fires which has left much of the site in a dangerous condition.

The dismantling operation is expected to last 16 weeks.

 

Notice Board

Mansfield Brewery Golfing Society

Duncan Henderson is willing to arrange a nostalgic golf match. Anyone interested please contact Duncan on 01623 467617 - mobile 07932 258118

Mansfield Brewery Walking Group .

Walks - Second Sunday every month.

For information contact Barbara Brown 01623 481488

Mansfield Brewery Retired Members Association Outings - 2008

Aug 21st Bure Vally Railway Norfolk Sept 18 th Stratford on Avon
Oct 22th Ironbridge Museum Nov 18 th Bletchley Museum
Nov 27 th Leeds Xmas Market Dec 17 th Xmas Lunch

To book your places on any of the outings
Telephone Denis Tasker 01623 623590

For information on the Association contact
Secretary George Powell 01623 624478

Six monthly re-union

Kevin Hall is organising the re-union at the Margarita’s Italian restaurant in Mansfield Woodhouse on Friday 17 th October 08

Contact Kevin on 07739 989626

 

If you have any photos, information, stories or tales about
W.G.Boalers and Son, Bellamys (Drinks) Ltd, Hull Brewery, R L Jones, Mansfield Brewery, Mandora Soft Drinks, T.W.Beach, Frampton Village Cider Company.

Please send to
Ian F P Boucher
34 Haddon Road
Mansfield
Notts
NG19 7BS
Telephone 01623 644798

All photographs etc will be returned if requested.

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Newsletter Sponsored by Baily Thomas Provident Fund