Development of Planning and Progress

An essential part of smooth production is pre-planning and towards this end, the Company has set up the Planning and Progress department within the management section. The main function of this department is to determine that all components, supplies and materials are available for all orders, and to ensure smooth progress without bottlenecks through the factory. Quite a tall order when you consider the large variety of shoes, colours, last shapes, trimmings etc. that have to be taken into account both with the in-stock trade and export.

Mr. M.C.C. Knowles (left), DeputyGeneral Manager, is responsible for Planning and Progress.

Mrs. Pat Harlow (left) at work on the export progress board.

Factory Profile

Bill Millard Starting with the firm in 1923 Bill Millard has been in the Lasting Room all of the time, first tackling Backs and inserting stiffeners and then on to Bed lasting. He has worked under three generations of the Horrell family and looks good for many more years’ useful service having recently been transferred to our new ‘Dateliner’ plant. For many years a successful member of the West End Club Cribbage team he now lives at Irthlingborough where he spends a great deal of his leisure time playing Tombola at the local ‘Glue-Pot’.

The New DATELINER Unit - First conveyor system making ladies’ shoes in Rushden
We show here pictures of the new Dateliner unit which started operations immediately after the annual holiday under the direction of Mr. Hardwick. It is the first conveyor system making ladies’ shoes to be installed in Rushden and all the shoe components, including complete sole units, are fed to the conveyor as it moves along towards the end product.Teething troubles were encountered and overcome, mainly by the enthusiasm of everyone on the unit, and many dummy runs were made before the new techniques were mastered. Now, as you read this, the unit is going all out to meet the staggering demand created by the showing of the first samples in September.
General view of Dateliner Conveyor System	Pulling uppers on to heel	Preparing the lasted shoe for attachment of the sole

Social Club News

The C. W. Horrell Social Club was born of the idea that we who spent so much of our time working to the same end, ‘Lots of good shoes’, may well find pleasure in spending a little of our leisure time together. The committee was formed by election from departments and the officers from that committee. All activities organised are from ideas gathered from the factory floor by the committee members, and the details worked out at the weekly meetings of the committee held in the canteen, for which we thank the management. The Finances are raised by means of a Tote which is run weekly. To date the Club has had a day outing to London. A darts team has been formed and arrangements for a Children’s Christmas party are in hand, the Christmas Tree will be provided by Mr. John Horrell. Father Christmas is yet to be named.

London Trip A party of 72 people went on the Factory Outing to London on Saturday, September 24th. The lunch was arranged at a Forte’s Restaurant in Oxford Street and was enjoyed by all. The afternoon and evening were free until 8.45 pm when the 2nd performance of the show ‘Fings Aint What They Used To Be’ began at the Garrick Theatre. The show ended at 11 pm and the party then left London for the journey home. They arrived back in Rushden at approximately 2 am after a worthwhile day out.

Our Darts team seems to be progressing very satisfactorily. The team members are keen and look forward to their Wednesday night out. A date has been suggested for the Children’s Christmas Party. It will be held on Saturday, December 31^st, with a laid-on tea and games. A Christmas tree will be supplied with decorations and presents. All those with children wishing to attend should give the names and ages of their children to the Room Representatives. A fishing trip was made but only small numbers attended and the fishing was poor. The prize of £1 was not claimed but another trip will be arranged.   

October Occasion

On Friday, 14^th October, some five hundred people converged on the Windmill Hall at Rushden. They were the employees of ORAL and their friends out to enjoy the Annual Dinner Dance given by the Company, and from all accounts enjoy it they did. All the arrangements were made and ably carried out by the Management Committee and credit goes to them for making this such an enjoyable evening. After dinner, the guests were entertained by a very well staged fashion show in which the latest Oral shoe styles were modelled by girls from Offices and Closing Room. Twenty five different styles were shown, including Dateliners, bootees and walking shoes and the show was compered and presented by Mrs. Daphne Tough. Music during dinner and for dancing was provided by Will Elmore and his music and Nat Gonella and the Georgians. Replying to the speech of welcome given by Mr. J. C. Horrell, Mr. Ralph Jolley said how much the generosity of the Directors was appreciated for providing such an enjoyable evening.

Mrs. John Horrell presents prizes to the best Rock & Rollers - Pam Cox and Richard Burgess	Enjoying the dancing	Mrs. Daphne Tough holding the bouquest given to her after the fashion show

The Fashion Show - l to r Joan Burgess, Mary Smith, Eirwen Evans, Susan Wright, Ann Harding

The Morleys at Oral

Bob and Norah Morley have between them served 25 years with ORAL. Bob in the Lasting Room and Norah in the Shoe Room. Bob a dry Yorkshire wit from South Hiendley near Barnsley, met his wife while serving in the forces at nearby St. Neots. On being demobbed in 1945 he settled in Rushden joining ORAL in 1947, his wife had already started a year previously in the Shoe Room where she does dressing. Along with their teenage son they spend many a quiet day by the river fishing, which is the main pastime of the Morley’s of ORAL.

Departmental News

Finishing Room

After a spell of six years with ORAL, in the capacity of foreman, Les Abrahams left us early in September and was presented with a clock by Frank Clayton on behalf of members throughout the factory. We take this opportunity of wishing him well in the future.

Some people talk big, others fish big, but Sid Tompkins digs big, he recently weighed in with a large size potato which tipped the scales at 2lbs. 2 oz. Some chip!!

Lasting Room

At the time of going to press we have three of our workmates in hospital. Don Burton, Pete Slack and Albert Mantle and we would like to wish them all a speedy recovery and better health in the future. Dick Neal, one of our angling experts recently landed a 20” Chub at Paston near St. Neots. One of the finest catches made locally for many years.

Clicking Room

Mr. John Buckley has now completed his treatment and we hope to have him back with us in the near future. Our other ‘absentee’ T. Baxter is at present serving with the R.A.O.C. at Chilwell, Notts, wearing a heavier type of footwear than he was used to cutting out here.

Aub Buckley hopes to ‘manage’ the Darts Team into winning the League Cup. Another tax rebate for one of our clickers, this time, Dave Fowler who became a proud father of a daughter in July – Lynn. The Benevolent Fund over the past five months ending September shows a loss of £3 over income but the fund is still in a healthy condition. We are pleased to report that our Benevolent Fund Secretary, J. Ager, is showing a steady improvement in health, others we hope to see back soon are W. Timpson, J. Drage and V. Wigley.

Mutual Admiration Society

There seems to be a mutual attraction between the new ‘recruits’ from the Closing Room (Thrapston) and the boys in the Clicking Room. Never before have we had such good timekeeping.

Making Room

Jack Goodfellow who is one of the keenest anglers welcomed the opening of the new season and on Saturday, June 18^th at Little Thetford won a Fourth Prize at a British Legion Competition with a catch of 8 lbs. 15 ozs. He also won the prize for the best specimen Roach this being a keep net.

Offices

Engagements

Miss Susan Wright (Office) to Mr. Peter Sumpter of Rushden on July 2^nd. Three newcomers to the staff are Mrs. Freda Head as Typist, Miss Valerie Hales, Powers and Miss Ann Harding, General Office.

Closing Room

Many new faces are appearing in this department including a new Forelady, Mrs. K. Chapman, who will have as her assistant Mrs. A. Rendall. We welcome six newcomers from the Thrapston area who are transported daily and trust they will find their new surroundings and conditions pleasant to work under. After 38 years with ORAL Mrs. L. Bayes will be retiring at Christmas and we hope she will have many happy years of retirement ahead. Mrs. C. Furness recently celebrated her Silver Wedding on August 3^rd with a trip to Brighton. Formerly a native of Souldrop she is now resident in the town.

Rough Stuff

Mr. Bob Banks returned after a short stay in Hospital and we trust that he will now be able to settle down once more after his recent illness.

Shoe Room

Trip to U.S.A. by Mrs. D. Neville Mrs. Dolly Neville, pictured here with her daughter Joyce, recently returned from America after spending an enjoyable holiday with her daughter and son-in-law. Travelling by air, an early delay was encountered which enabled her to spend three hours in Iceland but she eventually arrived at Idlewild Airport, New York where she was met by her daughter and son-in-law. Then came the 800 mile trip by car to Anderson, Indiana, passing through New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio on the way and again on the return to the Airport. Son-in-law was pleased to see mother-in-law who took him two pairs of ORAL shoes and gave our shoes a plug at the same time, certainly shoes and girls seem to be our main export.

Stop Press

To Shoe Room foreman Roy Allen on November 1^st a daughter, Jennifer.