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.

Val Humphries remembers her career at Benchairs
Val Humphries remembers her career at Benchairs 873 1024 Mercer Design

Val Humphries talks about Benchairs, the sites it used in Frome, and the jobs she did over the 29 years she worked for the firm

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Robert Hawker looks back at his working life as a Frome carpenter
Robert Hawker looks back at his working life as a Frome carpenter 250 311 Mercer Design

Robert Hawker tells us about his varied career, from being an apprentice carpenter at Hodder’s, to his national service and later jobs

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Paul Truscott talks about his working life in the carpentry business
Paul Truscott talks about his working life in the carpentry business 250 339 Mercer Design

Paul Truscott remembers learning the carpentry trade while working for his uncle and recalls his later employment with DJ Kelly Ltd

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John Stocker discusses his working life at Benchairs
John Stocker discusses his working life at Benchairs 604 672 Mercer Design

John Stocker describes how he used to load and unload chairs at the various Benchairs depots around Frome, including the Cheese and Grain

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Joan Smith looks back at her work with Beswick’s Fuses
Joan Smith looks back at her work with Beswick’s Fuses 247 305 Mercer Design

Joan Smith remembers being part of the mostly female workforce at Beswick’s Fuses and describes how she soldered, wired and capped the fuses

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Ian Spearing remembers his time working at Beswick’s Fuses
Ian Spearing remembers his time working at Beswick’s Fuses 250 311 Mercer Design

Ian Spearing discusses the relationship between management and workers at Beswick’s Fuses and talks about the layout of the factory and security

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Gloria Wingrove discusses her experience of working for Beswick’s
Gloria Wingrove discusses her experience of working for Beswick’s 225 271 Mercer Design

Gloria Wingrove talks about Beswick’s Fuses and the changes that took place when the U.S. firm, Bussmann, took the company over

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Dawn Chapman talks about her working life at Beswick’s
Dawn Chapman talks about her working life at Beswick’s 704 768 Mercer Design

Dawn Chapman talks about her long career at Beswick’s and recalls how she started on the shop floor and progressed to a supervisory role

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