Retired Cadbury workers demand stronger action to stop takeover
RETIRED Cadbury workers who fear for the heritage of the city factory have demanded the Government take stronger action to stop a takeover. John Brindley, Ken Davenport, Dot O’Regan, Betty Taylor and Ray Tilling between them clocked up decades at Bournville and said new owners could turn the 1879 factory in a garden into a “wasteland”.
RETIRED Cadbury workers who fear for the heritage of the city factory have demanded the Government take stronger action to stop a takeover. John Brindley, Ken Davenport, Dot O’Regan, Betty Taylor and Ray Tilling between them clocked up decades at Bournville and said new owners could turn the 1879 factory in a garden into a “wasteland”.
Their memories are of generations of families employed there, romances blossoming over the conveyor belt, royal visits and a feeling of pride whenever they told anyone where they worked.
Their memories are of generations of families employed there, romances blossoming over the conveyor belt, royal visits and a feeling of pride whenever they told anyone where they worked.
They remember how their bosses rewarded their efforts – there were opportunities too, with one workmate progressing from teaboy to factory manager.
They remember how their bosses rewarded their efforts – there were opportunities too, with one workmate progressing from teaboy to factory manager.
Workers’ welfare was upmost and in the 1980s production was stopped for the then world champion weightlifter Precious McKenzie to show them how to bend their knees and sit in their chairs.
Workers’ welfare was upmost and in the 1980s production was stopped for the then world champion weightlifter Precious McKenzie to show them how to bend their knees and sit in their chairs.
John, aged 65, from Bournville, met Joyce, his wife of 33 years, on an evening shift and chatted her up with the line: “It’s a good job I’m not a window cleaner with the ladders in your stockings!”
John, aged 65, from Bournville, met Joyce, his wife of 33 years, on an evening shift and chatted her up with the line: “It’s a good job I’m not a window cleaner with the ladders in your stockings!”
The great-grandad described the company as “the capital of Bournville and England” and is worried would-be owners Kraft would only want to cream off the profits.
The great-grandad described the company as “the capital of Bournville and England” and is worried would-be owners Kraft would only want to cream off the profits.
John, who worked there from 1968 to 2000 and was involved in the original launch of the Wispa bar, said: “Cadbury is a company that can stand up for itself, it’s proved that for a 100 years, but it does need the Government to be on its side and I don’t think they are.
John, who worked there from 1968 to 2000 and was involved in the original launch of the Wispa bar, said: “Cadbury is a company that can stand up for itself, it’s proved that for a 100 years, but it does need the Government to be on its side and I don’t think they are.
“Kraft buy these companies to build profits up then break them into pieces and that’s what will happen here.”
“Kraft buy these companies to build profits up then break them into pieces and that’s what will happen here.”
Former chocolate box packer Betty, aged 72, from Kings Norton, has a son Robert who has worked there for 33 years and a daughter Mandy for 22 years.
Former chocolate box packer Betty, aged 72, from Kings Norton, has a son Robert who has worked there for 33 years and a daughter Mandy for 22 years.
Betty, who worked there from 1967 to 1997, said: “It shouldn’t go to Kraft or anybody else and should stay as it is for the next 100 years to give our children the chance to have jobs.”
Betty, who worked there from 1967 to 1997, said: “It shouldn’t go to Kraft or anybody else and should stay as it is for the next 100 years to give our children the chance to have jobs.”
Ray too has happy memories including the time he got pinned to the wall of a corridor which ran the length of the factory called the “crush hall” by thousands of girls on their way to lunch.
Ray too has happy memories including the time he got pinned to the wall of a corridor which ran the length of the factory called the “crush hall” by thousands of girls on their way to lunch.
The 80-year-old, from Selly Oak, who got engaged to Betty in 2000, said the workforce was provided with a doctor, dentist, a swimming baths and sports grounds and can remember a time when there were 11 football teams.
The 80-year-old, from Selly Oak, who got engaged to Betty in 2000, said the workforce was provided with a doctor, dentist, a swimming baths and sports grounds and can remember a time when there were 11 football teams.
“It was a marvellous firm to work for,” said Ray, who followed in his father Charles’ footsteps to work at Bournville from 1974 to 1993. “When my wife was ill with cancer they were very good. Nobody ever questioned ‘where have you been?’. They knew what the situation was.”
“It was a marvellous firm to work for,” said Ray, who followed in his father Charles’ footsteps to work at Bournville from 1974 to 1993. “When my wife was ill with cancer they were very good. Nobody ever questioned ‘where have you been?’. They knew what the situation was.”
Ray and Betty had been friends when they worked together in the 1980s. After being widowed, love blossomed when they were reunited at the Cadbury Club in 1999.
Ray and Betty had been friends when they worked together in the 1980s. After being widowed, love blossomed when they were reunited at the Cadbury Club in 1999.
Betty said: “We wouldn’t have got together if we hadn’t have known each other from Cadbury’s. It’s our history they could be taking away from us.”
Betty said: “We wouldn’t have got together if we hadn’t have known each other from Cadbury’s. It’s our history they could be taking away from us.”
