Comments on: Alstom (Metropolitan-Cammell Ltd) – Washwood Heath http://www.birminghamroundabout.co.uk/2009/alstom-metropolitan-cammell-ltd-washwood-heath/ The history, culture, development & regeneration of Birmingham, UK Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:23:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Paul Smith http://www.birminghamroundabout.co.uk/2009/alstom-metropolitan-cammell-ltd-washwood-heath/comment-page-1/#comment-3343 Paul Smith Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:29:55 +0000 http://www.birminghamroundabout.co.uk/?p=251#comment-3343 I am compiling a book for Ian Allan Publishing detailing current emu/dmu and locomotive depots and I understand that Hanson Traction has just opened a depot within the works complex. Does anyone have any information on this? Please get in touch with me, Paul Smith, on 0121 444 8896 or 07786 361 063 I am compiling a book for Ian Allan Publishing detailing current emu/dmu and locomotive depots and I understand that Hanson Traction has just opened a depot within the works complex. Does anyone have any information on this?
Please get in touch with me, Paul Smith, on 0121 444 8896 or 07786 361 063

]]> By: Peter Bennett. http://www.birminghamroundabout.co.uk/2009/alstom-metropolitan-cammell-ltd-washwood-heath/comment-page-1/#comment-2355 Peter Bennett. Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:18:28 +0000 http://www.birminghamroundabout.co.uk/?p=251#comment-2355 I've found the brief history...via the web, good-as far as it goes. Which for me is not far. The deep background is fascinating though. What about the workers? Hundreds of them. I became famous (or was it notorious) as the man in the wrong Union! As a member of the closed-shop-members only Birmingham & midland Sheet Metal Workers Society, I got a job by application as a 'straightener'-of well anything Steel/Iron that was bent or distorted really. I was not told that the Train assembly section in F1/2/3/4 bays were a closed shop with the T&G union! Some knew, no-one seemed to mind. well for 6 years! There came a change of Convener (who-it was roumered- was cast down at a car factory by the dreaded Sheeties! Revenge! He uncovered my status and stirred the revolt! Well he told the crew to down tools if I continued working amongst them! I was SACKED! I won unfair dismistle, bought a brand new car with the proceeds, drove the car into the Directors Parking Spot -much to the security staffs vexation, refused to move it and proceeded into the personnell Dept (was it Mr Fish)? and served my constructive dismistle papers, won and got Redundancy Payout. Oh what a sad departure! My Mate and friend was Bill Jones, who had been after the war the heaviest prisoner to be liberated at 6 stone! What a sence of humour! He was one of many Black Country workers from various Towns and Villages in that area who worked for the (was it)? Wednesbury Carriage works. What a terrific bunch of men! Tony Powell was Foreman. Don ????? Manager. Scruffy drove the 3 wheeled truck. So many names and faces. Were You There At That Time? Like to hear from you. Pete I’ve found the brief history…via the web, good-as far as it goes. Which for me is not far. The deep background is fascinating though.
What about the workers? Hundreds of them. I became famous (or was it notorious) as the man in the wrong Union! As a member of the closed-shop-members only Birmingham & midland Sheet Metal Workers Society,
I got a job by application as a ’straightener’-of well anything Steel/Iron that was bent or distorted really. I was not told that the Train assembly section in F1/2/3/4 bays were a closed shop with the T&G union! Some knew, no-one seemed to mind. well for 6 years!
There came a change of Convener (who-it was roumered- was cast down at a car factory by the dreaded Sheeties! Revenge! He uncovered my status and stirred the revolt! Well he told the crew to down tools if I continued working amongst them!
I was SACKED! I won unfair dismistle, bought a brand new car with the proceeds, drove the car into the Directors Parking Spot -much to the security staffs vexation, refused to move it and proceeded into the personnell Dept (was it Mr Fish)? and served my constructive dismistle papers, won and got Redundancy Payout.
Oh what a sad departure!

My Mate and friend was Bill Jones, who had been after the war the heaviest prisoner to be liberated at 6 stone! What a sence of humour!
He was one of many Black Country workers from various Towns and Villages in that area who worked for the (was it)? Wednesbury Carriage works. What a terrific bunch of men! Tony Powell was Foreman. Don ????? Manager. Scruffy drove the 3 wheeled truck. So many names and faces. Were You There At That Time?
Like to hear from you. Pete

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