I started work aged 14 in October 1931 for Fred Hawkes (N.V Engineers.) Ltd, Telephone numbers, Rushden 345 and 346, and remained for 48 years. Their premises were in Portland Road, next door to H. E. Wilmott and Co Ltd - Shoe manufacturers, which later became the school canteen.

My wages were 6 shillings per week and after 6 months I was given 1s and 6d extra for the wear and tear of my bicycle. I was in the office by 7.30a.m, having collected the mail from the GPO sorting office. Thence on to Fred Hawkes home, 'Eastonwood' in Newton Road. I got a puncture one morning and was late, having had to walk and was told off by his wife.

The business was Machinery Specialists to the Boot and Shoe trade, stocks were, 3,000 machines and 1,000 tons of grinderies, sent to customers all over the world.

Telegrams and Cablegrams were addressed to NU VALUE. RUSHDEN.

The telephone hung on an iron pedestal, my job was to answer it. We had a bad thunderstorm one afternoon, it rang and when I picked it up, it flashed. I threw it across the desk in fright. So doing, no phone until the engineer came to repair it.

The premises became too small and a new factory was built next to the connecting walk way between Portland Road and Queen Street.

The malleable iron Heel and Toe Tips used on Army boots, were made at John Richards foundry in Tipton, Staffs, packed and sold in gross pairs. Hob nails, protector studs, heel pins, tacks and wires were made by Hall and Rue Ltd of West Bromwich and sold in 28lb bags.

The above was delivered to the Portland Road entrance. Heavy machinery was handled at the Queen Street entrance, moved from the large showroom with pulley blocks running along iron girders in the roof. The floor was of concrete and there were four wheel trucks handled by storemen for loading and unloading tips and grindery.

Machinery going abroad was collected by L.M.S. railway, by horse and dray in those times. The draymen called every day, one of whom would ring the door bell and shout "Hell of a Mess". Mr. Fred Hawkes would ring the Rushden rail office and stress the consignment was very urgent and had to be on a certain ship. I often had to call at the station with documents and was greeted with "here comes 'Miss Urgent' ".

The draymen regularly came early (on purpose I think) and the crate would not be quite ready, so Mr. Fred would ask him to come back for which he was given a tip.

Another man who got a tip was the road sweeper if 'he would kindly keep leaves and debris away from the front door'.

The vestibule entrance was very ornate with lovely stained glass panels depicting emblems of the Countries we dealt with. One gentleman boot manufacturer whom I answered the door to, had his hands clasped as if in prayer and said “Oh it is like coming into a cathedral.”

The main large office flooring was mottled blue rubber tiles bought from a ship, the lady cleaner used to wash the floor on her hands and knees. The Boardroom was carpeted and contained very nice furniture. The tops of our desks were covered in plate glass.

When the business grew we moved into newly built larger premises opposite Alfred Sargent and Sons, still in Portland Road. Mr. Cyril Slater and Mr. Jack Franklin became Directors and had their own offices.

The first Burroughs Accounting Machine in Rushden was purchased, for which I was responsible having gone to Leicester for a weeks training.

Mr. Bert Mepham was foreman in the rebuilding and repair shop. Mr. Jack Lake was over the machine shop. Mr. Jack Franklin was head of the drawing office. Mr. John Wallis and Mr. George Coleman were the carpenters crating up machines to go overseas.

Every one of us had a monetary gift for Christmas.

We had a canteen employing 2 ladies and were given 10 minute breaks morning and afternoon for a cup of tea.

I started work at Fred Hawkes when I left school in 1962. I started in the usual way as office junior for the princely wage of £3 15s 6d per week. We started work at 8.30a.m. and finished at 5 p.m. with an hour for lunch.

My duties included the all important job of making the tea, doing the filing, some shorthand and typing, and working the switchboard. Having never even used a telephone before, the switchboard terrified me, and for the first couple of weeks I hated it, but it soon became one of my favourite jobs. Filing being the most tedious.

At that time Mr. Robinson was the Managing Director, Mr. Clark was the Sales Director and Mr. Poole was the Service Manager. They sold and serviced domestic refrigerators as well as commercial, the main make, I think, was Kelvinator. They did a lot of work for the Breweries, insulating the cellars etc., and for the supermarkets.

The engineers and salesmen were based in their own areas, and only came to Rushden when it was necessary: the engineers if something had to be repaired in the workshop, and the salesmen for meetings. The sales meetings with Mr. Clark always involved a lot of shouting (and swearing) and were best avoided if at all possible.

Jim Thompson was in charge of the stores, and Don Gregg was workshop foreman. When I started there were five of us working in the main office - Eric Tompkins (who at one time had played football for Northampton), Louis Coleman, Molly Clark, Maureen (Warner?) and me. Mr. Robinson and Mr. Clark had their own offices off the main office. Mr. Poole's office was in the workshop. When Maureen left I was promoted from office junior and received an extra £1 a week. I was then working mostly for Mr. Poole, typing orders and invoices. Ann Sharp then started as office junior. We also had an Office Manager, Mr. Porter, and when he left Eric Roe took over the job.

Eventually, the flat which adjoined the building was converted into offices. Mr. Robinson, Mr. Clark and Mr. Poole had the new offices, the Office Manager had what had previously been Mr. Clark's office, and the switchboard and filing cabinets were moved into what had been Mr. Robinson's office. Mary Boyfield started as Mr. Clark's Assistant, and we also had another man, Mr. Ward, working in the main office.

When Molly left I took over her job and was then doing shorthand and typing for Mr. Robinson and Mr. Clark, which involved specifications for all the brewery work and other installations. By the time I left, at the beginning of November 1968, I was earning about £11 a week.

Not long before I left, Fred Hawkes was taken over by Cox and Wright but still carried on trading under the same name. Gill Hollis, 2008