Dad's early workplace - the foundry

Info and photos of the firm that my dad, George Reid Ellis, worked, as an iron stove fitter, from ca late 1930’s [this is a guess of GFE, given that mum and dad married 29 Dec 1939], til ca the second year of my apprenticeship as a Metal fabricator/Welder[say 1960]. See link here: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Mitchell,_Russell_and_Co

NB I started at the fabricating apprenticeship ca july 1958 [age 15 in 19 April], but not allowed to leave school til after June 1958??]

NB I really have to get my paperwork to give better dates

Anyway, Girls, another bit pf the Ellis family history

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Email from Dad August 2016:
Girls

Attached is an Arial photo of the Mitchell and Russell Foundry where I was apprenticed, from July 1958 til July 1963, then as a Journeyman Metal Fabricator/Welder, til your Mum and i migrated to Australia in 12 Dec 1963, landing at Circular Quay 13 Jan 1964.

LOVESYAS DAD

CAME ACROSS THIS PHOTO WHEN SEARCHING IN SCOTLAND.

What struck me about the photo is that it was a 1925?? photo, Which showed me the huge level of industry at that early date. Yet when I was an apprentice the buildings in the old section were pretty dowdy. Tho, we were housed in two very modern buildings, obviously not on that photo, which would have been built not long before `i was starting my Metal Fabrication/Welding Apprenticeship in July 1958[Just turned 15 from my April birthday].

My Dad, George Reid Ellis spoke up for me, as workers did for their offspring. I can’t remember much about the process. But my best guess was that employees were encouraged to nominate their offspring for employment. I suppose that management thought that this would engender loyalty from parents of the youth being employed. I had to go to see Mr Paterson, the personnel manager. From memory, there were three apprenticeship jobs going in  Smith and Welllstood - the parent company, which had another massive foundry just down the road.

The three jobs were , 1] Draughtsman, 2] Toolmaker, and, 3] Metal Fabricator/Welder[MFW]. Even at 15, i knew the hierarchy of importance. i wanted the no.1, and if not available the No. 2. As for `MFW’, I didn’t fancy that!

But as always, the jobs were filled according to the social status of the parent.

No1 job went to the son of Manager of the Smith and Welstoods;

No2 job went to the son of the foreman of the Mechanical section

No3 Job went to the son of the tradesman, ME.

That was just the way of things. But having said all of that, `i was pleased to have an apprenticeship, and, have a day a week to get trained at the Falkirk, Burbank Foundry Trades Centre [a ‘pre’Technical college’ era arrangement]. However, that also entailed going to Tech 3-4 nights a week for 1 to 5 years, which I did. I loved Tech. I was one of about a dozen students for the first 3yrs[Compulsory for day release for the first 3 yrs, then voluntary for the last 2 yrs of 5yrs. Also this allowed me to sit for the National City and Guilds, Intermediate Certificate at 3yrs and the ‘Final’[Can’t remember its correct name] after 5 yrs. 

This was a national British training scheme, which I failed as I had found that girls were more of an interest than study, but I did well, not realising that the C&G was held in very high regard by employers. But by this time in 1963, I was engaged, getting married and Mum and i were migrating, simply because we couldn’t see much of a future in Scotland and `i wasn’t going to England - such was Scots disdain for everything English. Little did I know that Maw’s Mum, my Grannie Forrest[ms Bastable] was English. I just thought that her strange accent was North Scottish, where they talked strange. Granny came from Woolavington, in Somerset, England.

It wasn’t til your Grannie migrated to Sydney in Gough Whitlam’s ‘Family Reunion’ Program, that i realized that I knew very little of my ancestors and that you girls needed to know of your lineage so as to understand your history etc etc. History, became apparent to me, as very important in understanding, not only our background, but also to get our voices heard in society as the rich and famous do with their priorities and power management.

Your Grannie Ellis started me there and here am I taking all of this down from my tiny brain - thanks to Granny Ellis.

So, back to the photo. It is said that 'a photo is worth a thousand words’. Well, how true indeed, in evoking memories and looking back in realising that the choices we make for the future are determined by the path taken in the past.[That’s a George Forrest Ellis made up proverb]-you read it here first and it is copyright to me!!!!!!]

Well, so much from me, as I have to go pick up Mum at her music at 11.00pm

Lisa would you copy this and the photo in to Di in to this as a part of her understanding of How Mum and i met and why we migrated

Luvsya Girls