Industrial Memories

In this section you will find a collection of memories gathered from the men and women who worked in Frome’s industries. These industries include firms such as Beswicks, Benchairs, Butler and Tanner, and Singer’s.

Simon Giles discusses his career with Singer’s and Tyco
Simon Giles discusses his career with Singer’s and Tyco 701 768 Mercer Design

Simon Giles recalls how he started work at Singer’s in Frome and then moved to the Marston Trading Estate with the successor company, Tyco

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Steve Francis talks about his working life at Singer’s in Frome
Steve Francis talks about his working life at Singer’s in Frome 645 768 Mercer Design

Steve Francis started work as an apprentice in the toolroom, then trained in the drawing office before becoming a senior design engineer

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Rodney Clarke recalls driving lorries for Express Dairies
Rodney Clarke recalls driving lorries for Express Dairies 768 1024 Mercer Design

Rodney Clarke talks to us about his time driving lorries, firstly for Express Dairies and then later for English China Clays

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Ron White talks about the taxi service he began in Frome
Ron White talks about the taxi service he began in Frome 778 1024 Mercer Design

Ron White talks to us about how he set up and ran a taxi service from the Lamb and Fountain public house in Castle Street, Frome

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Freda Henly remembers working for Wallington Weston
Freda Henly remembers working for Wallington Weston 576 768 Mercer Design

Freda Henly was born in Milk Street in Frome. In this video, she discusses her working life at Wallington Weston when the firm was at Adderwell

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Bill Ellis discusses his time at Wessex Engineering in Frome
Bill Ellis discusses his time at Wessex Engineering in Frome 598 708 Mercer Design

Bill Ellis talks about his working life at Wessex Engineering in Frome and tells how he later went on to run a hardware store

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Gerald Franks talks about being an apprentice with Butler and Tanner
Gerald Franks talks about being an apprentice with Butler and Tanner 414 601 Mercer Design

Gerald Franks talks about his work at the Butler and Tanner printing works and describes how he completed his apprenticeship

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Gerald Franks explains the printing process at Butler and Tanner
Gerald Franks explains the printing process at Butler and Tanner 485 643 Mercer Design

Gerald Franks talks about his working life at the Butler and Tanner print works and recalls the stages involved in getting a book to print

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Gerald Franks discusses the unions at Butler and Tanner
Gerald Franks discusses the unions at Butler and Tanner 1024 782 Mercer Design

Gerald Franks talks about unions and describes some of the working practices at Butler and Tanner during his time with the firm

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Dorothy Hawker remembers her time at Butler and Tanner
Dorothy Hawker remembers her time at Butler and Tanner 250 299 Mercer Design

Dorothy Hawker left school at 15 and went to work at the Butler and Tanner print works. She worked there until she was 20, when she left to bring up her son

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