Lever Brothers
Do you remember when?
Do you have a storey to tell of days gone by in the picture?
Matty and Me on Location
find out what it says above the door?
Areial - Your number one washing powder, now with softener too.
Where to start!
My family had worked in Levers for many many years. My Dad started work there in 1927 when he was 15. He lied about his age to get a job there.
He retired in 1977, having not had a single day off sick in 50 years - not even when he came off his motorbike and broke or dislocated his thumb! He did a days work then got it looked at!
Because it was Silver Jubilee year, he was presented with a Medal, Silver Coin on a Mable Plinth and a Silver Goblet by The Queen at Buckingham Palace. He was so proud, as were we! It was the only time I ever remember seeing him cry.
mmost my family including me have worked there, my dad about to retire after what will be 43 years, i think my nan has some old photos of when she worked in the packing room, before she married my grandad as levers never let married women work there
will try to get her to copy them...
The only member of my family that hasn't worked there at some point is my baby brother (sorry Dan). I'll ask my Mum what she remembers and post it too.
I worked a Levers in 1964 in the printing room, was only there a year but it was a fun place to work, we laughed every day, i worked checking Batchelor pea labels for faults, such as blurred writing, wrong colour, edging not right, then moved to having to strip the edges off the flat boxes, got loads of paper cuts on that job, then to the machines, we would have to feed the boxes at the front, the machine would fold them up and we would have to take them off the other end, a 100 at a time, then stack them onto a trolley, my favourite box to do was blue band margarine, that was brilliant to do. We had an old guy called Norman who use to bring our tea, coffee and cakes round, he was sweet, always smiling and ready for a laugh. In our dinner hour after lunch, us girls would get together and in turn another girl would do our hair in beehives, using sugar and water as hairspray, the only way to wash it out was with Omo washing powder, but it did our hair no harm, we were all Dusty Springfields in them days. The only thing i didn't like about Levers was, once them gates were closed, that was it, you couldn't get out, and if you were late, they docked it out of your wages, i got £5.19.6 a week there, and went to Rostances for clothes, and Timpsons for my shoes, both in New Ferry, then if a record caught my eye, 6/8p in Woolies, good days.
Great memories, Babs. Got any more?
Chris, she has LOADS!! If Dad was still alive he'd have a lot more as he worked there for 50 yrs. Mum was saying something about munitions there ? during the war. I'm sure she'll post it when she reads this. There was only my little brother that didn't work there. Think we all did at some stage or other - even me.
Started in '64 and I was on site for near 40 years !
Yes, loads of memories
- The mad 5pm rush for the dozens of buses all lined up outside
- Nobody sitting next to me on the bus because I had spent the day digging crud out of the bottom of tallow tanks
- Almost sticking to the floor and handrails in Pears dept because the whole place had layers and layers of ancient soap
- The effects of breathing alcohol fumes in the Pears tablet finishing area
- The bacon and sausage butties mid morning from the canteen
- Parking my m/c in the wharf carpark, crossing the bridge over the creek and nipping into Stores Disposal to see what gems old Fletcher had in Stores Disposal. We were both rogues.
Snod
Chris, she has LOADS!! If Dad was still alive he'd have a lot more as he worked there for 50 yrs. Mum was saying something about munitions there ? during the war. I'm sure she'll post it when she reads this. There was only my little brother that didn't work there. Think we all did at some stage or other - even me.
I like many others also worked there as a subby,your Mum is right.Levers had a munitions factory which was located under Lever house,some of the assembly is still there.
The only thing i didn't like about Levers was, once them gates were closed, that was it, you couldn't get out
You could always walk through the South Wing offices and get out via the main door at the front.