Royal Crown Derby Staff List 9th June 1947
`To celebrate Harold Robinson's 70th Birthday the staff produced a presentation book which included the signatures of the 267 strong workforce. It provides a unique snapshot of the personnel and their activities at the time and has never been published before.
This photograph of Harold Robinson was included in the presentation book and was taken by local photographer Pat Laurie. 124 Osmaston Road, Derby.
The numbers alongside the signatures refer to the Index page which lists the various departments.
You can search the list below using the Ctrl F function.
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Burnishers |
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Enamellers |
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B Bown |
K Beale |
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P Collinson |
K O Bellian |
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B Consterdine |
C J Bennett |
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Doris E Consterdine |
P Blurton |
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R Dunmore |
B J Brown |
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E M Dunne |
P Burton |
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B Garnham |
M Day |
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N Gotham |
Doris Gaskin |
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P Gregson |
B Heath |
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B Holmes |
S Henson |
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O Holmes |
J P Humber |
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A Ison |
B A Hunt |
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H James |
J Johnson |
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G Lowe |
P Kitching |
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H Lyons |
E Lomas |
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C Machin |
S Meyer |
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M A Manning |
Joan Midgley |
Chief Enameller |
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M Murray |
F Nichols |
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J Osborne |
L Parkes |
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G Parker |
K Pountain |
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M Reeves |
D M Perry |
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H Riley |
M M Turner |
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K E Roberts |
M Vowles |
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D Saskin |
H Whitehead |
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G M Sherry |
J Wilde |
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Miss Clara Smart |
N Wisher |
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E M Wall |
C J Wood |
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M Wheeldon |
B Woodward |
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J Woodward |
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Glost Warehouse |
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Biscuit Warehouse |
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H Blantoby |
A Bullock |
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D Gell |
A Dakin |
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G M Minor |
B Elton |
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A Nixon |
F A Harrison |
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J Poster |
Frank A McMahon |
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D Slater |
R Pykett |
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Glost Printers |
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Biscuit Printers |
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E L Braine |
A Bale |
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Walter Brough |
J M Barker |
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B Burlinson |
Frank Cartlidge |
Husband of Canteen Lady |
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E J Clarke |
M Johnson |
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N Cull |
B E Kirkland |
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L Margett |
H Marriott |
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J M Ortoby |
M Marshall |
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J Saunders |
U Osborne |
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B Sharpe |
R Russell |
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B Whittingham |
J Russell |
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D E Walton |
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Bluers |
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Packers |
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R F Fellyman |
Harry L Busby |
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M Harrison |
David Leigh |
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Kiln |
Staff |
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Stan Chapman |
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Tom Allman |
Works Manager |
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Mrs L Dolman |
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Joyce Grocutt |
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John T Finney |
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Eileen Mary Jones |
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E L Fletcher |
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Colin F Osborne |
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Fred Gerrard |
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Edward (Ted) Peake |
Company Secretary |
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C M Lee |
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J Price |
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Arthur Mee |
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Edith Dorothy Rawlings |
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Mrs E A Read |
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Eric James Robinson |
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F Walker |
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Phillip Ivor Robinson |
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Ken Watson |
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Mr Lawrence Taylor |
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Miss Norma Thornhill |
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Mould Makers |
Biscuit Ovens |
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L Goodall |
F Chell |
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E Harding |
Jim E Hallam |
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D Horsley |
W Walklate |
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G B Ratcliffe |
Charlie Warrilow |
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Thomas Wilkinson |
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Gold Grinders |
Canteen |
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J Mead |
Mrs C Cartlidge |
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Mrs E Stevenson |
E Richardson |
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Biscuit Stampers |
Painters |
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N Cooper |
B Elston |
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J Ellis |
J Horwich |
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E Simms |
William E Mosley |
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G Stocks |
J Scott |
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Charlie Woodhall |
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Flower Makers |
Glost Ovens |
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I Colder |
W D Beattie |
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D Cordon |
R Critchley |
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M Gallimore |
Fred Emery |
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E M Page |
W Milner |
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I M Wells |
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Men Gilders |
Dipping House |
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W H Cole |
E Edwards |
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Albert J Haddock |
J D Willis |
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V Woolhouse |
J T Wood |
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Lithographers |
Groundlayers |
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J Brooks |
D Benton |
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J Collumbell |
J Chambers |
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B Garton |
J Gadsby |
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Jean Humphreys |
J Garratt |
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L P Walker |
Miss Lois J Hamnett |
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Muriel Walker |
M Moreton |
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G Whitticase |
V Smith |
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M Wilson |
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Engravers |
Saggar Makers |
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Harry Short |
Trade union representative |
E Clowes |
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W J Williams |
R P Port |
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Mill |
Lodge |
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Edward (Ted) Pountain |
J Atkins |
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Jim Crossley |
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Casters |
Plate Makers |
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R Barsby |
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C W Bailey |
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A F Betesta |
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R W Barks |
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A Collinson |
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L A Bentley |
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Fred Ellis |
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A M Day |
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T A Evans |
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Albert Deakin |
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M Farmer |
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P Firmin |
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K Hackfield |
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W R Fisher |
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David Harrison |
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N Gadsby |
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S E Harrison |
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B Harrison |
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D W Hawley |
A Owen |
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A Hill |
L Rooney |
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Thomas J Kirk |
D Sammonds |
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J Lymer |
Peter Simpson |
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Harold Morton |
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E Northwood |
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R Patton |
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N Schofield |
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Arthur Usher |
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F D Vickers |
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W J Ward |
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Best Warehouse |
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P Buxton |
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D Crooks |
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Fred T Finney |
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Emily Gibbons |
Selector |
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G I Hill |
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A B Leigh |
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C Nixon |
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A Winson |
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H W Woodhouse |
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Women Gilders A-H |
Women Gilders J-Z |
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M Archer |
Pauline Jackson |
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Joy Bacon |
A H Jones |
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Betty H Bailey |
B King |
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Betty Brown |
Betty Lakin |
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B A Burt |
J Lane |
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M Cauldwell |
J Margett |
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J Chambers |
W Milner |
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J Chapman |
Margaret Newbold |
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Constance Clark later Davis |
M Owen |
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M Edwards |
Mary Oxley |
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D M Ellis |
E J Sargeant |
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Kathleen Fogg |
P Shelly |
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Miss Emma Foster |
P Sherwood |
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P Frearson |
G Spencer |
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M E Gibbs |
J Stephens |
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Betty Harris |
Dorothy Sutherland |
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L Harris |
P G Vasey |
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J Hempstock |
Olive Watson |
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W R Hoey |
Violet Webster Later Wright |
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S Holmes |
B M White |
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L M Winterson |
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Polishers |
Maintenance |
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Eric J Lowndes |
B Frost |
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J Ratcliffe |
Charles (Charlie) Jarvis |
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J Ravenscroft |
H Noone |
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A Stevenson |
C Woodall |
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L Warner |
Some of the signatures are difficult to read, and inevitably therefore I will have made some errors of interpretation.
The large number of gilders, enamellers and burnishers does suggest a much higher level of activity than has been reported in previous accounts.
It is interesting to note the relatively short list of painters. It would appear that Hague, Gresley, Dean and Birbeck were mostly employed on a freelance basis, often working at home, and were not therefore regarded as "staff". Furthermore from all accounts it would seem that when they were at the factory they were regarded "as very much a law unto themselves".
If anyone has further information which they would like to be included please let me know via the contact page. I would like to add photographs of staff members in the "Archive Photographs" page as and when these are made available. If you can assist in this respect please let me know.
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Mr H T Gittoes |
Director |
Mrs Walker |
Lithographers |
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Mr E. C. Peake |
Secretary |
Mrs Midgley |
Enamellers |
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Mr C F Osborne |
Sales Manager |
Miss Smart |
Burnishers |
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Mr J Hallam |
Clay Manager |
Miss Foster |
Gilders |
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Mr L Jerram |
Decorating Manager |
Miss Gerrard |
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Mr F McMahon |
Departmental Manager |
Mr J Atkins |
Lodge |
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Mr A Nixon |
Departmental Manager |
Mrs Morton |
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Mr A Leigh |
Departmental Manager |
Mr A Askey |
Driver |
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Mr A Finney |
Departmental Manager |
Mr H Short |
Engraver |
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Mrs Tomlinson |
Office Staff |
Mr W Brough |
Glost Printers |
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Miss E Howitt |
Office Staff |
Mr C Jarvis |
Maintenance |
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Miss I Betts |
Office Staff |
Mr H Noon |
Maintenance |
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Miss L Hillman |
Office Staff |
Mr A Haddock |
Gilder |
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Mr T Wilkinson |
Mould Makers |
Mr H Busby |
Packer |
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Mr D Harrison |
Caster |
Mr W Colley |
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Mr G Warner |
Miss Gibbons |
Best Warehouse |
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Mr R Critchley |
Glost Ovens |
Miss Consterdine |
Burnishers |
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Mr J Ravenscroft |
Polishers |
Mrs Marshall |
Biscuit Printers |
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Mr A Harrison |
Biscuit Warehouse |
Mrs Braine |
Glost Printers |
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Miss F Hamnett |
Groundlayers |
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The above list is taken from the report of Harold Robinson's death which appeared in the Derby Evening Telegraph on Saturday 24th January 1953. Over 100 employees attended the service, and 39 names were recorded in the paper. I have listed the department where known.
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B Bentley |
1947 - 1987 |
C Komaniki |
1966 - 1971 |
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S Kimsey |
1947 - Present |
M Waldon |
1968 - 1970 |
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J Gould |
1948 - 1960 |
S Beardsall |
1969 - 1972 |
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Mr H.C.G. Jacob |
1951 - 1959 |
K Wood |
1969 - 1980 |
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Mr W.G. Jacob |
1952 - 1956 |
L Brown |
1970 - 1973 |
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J Griffiths |
1955 - Present |
P Hardy |
1970 - 1975 |
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M Townsend |
1957 - Present |
L Payne (née Hilliard) |
1970 - 1979 |
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J Kimsey (née Brown) |
1958 - 1970 |
H Dudley (née Prince) |
1970 - 1981 |
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B Riley |
1960 - 1964 |
Y Harper (née Brearly, later Freestone) |
1970 - 1981 |
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J Doyle |
1960 – 1968 ? |
L Purdy |
1971 - 1976 |
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M Mason |
1961 - 1969 |
V Akers |
1971 - 1979 |
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Mr T Bramfitt |
1962 - 1964 |
J Wilcockson |
1971 - 1980 |
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L Tristram |
1962 - 1967 |
C Windridge |
1972 - Present |
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C Jackson |
1962 - 1971 |
J Aston (née Taylor) |
1973 - Present |
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P Webb |
1963 - 1970 |
S Whitbread (née Tivey) |
1974 - 1981 |
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L Johnson |
1965 - 1970 ? |
J Roome |
1976 - Present |
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Catherine Mary Pell |
1965 - 1970 |
L Holmes |
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S Scott |
1965 - 1972 |
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The list above is taken from the revised edition of Royal Crown Derby by Twitchett and Bailey and appears under Appendix IV "Enamellers employed since the Second world War" it was supplied by Brenda "Pip" Bentley and from this it would seem likely that the actual staff factory records have not survived. I have included it as it is such a useful reference. "Present" refers to the date of publication of the revised edition - i.e. 1988. In the post war period enamellers were permitted to sign their own work and the names above will therefore appear on pieces, especially figurines.
I have amended the list slightly as the entry for V Akers was duplicated. I am aware of some omissions - e.g. Joyce Broughton is not included and in a previous article in "Bygones" I note that Betty Johnson was "Posy painting" from 1948-1953 and then returned to the factory part-time later to train left handed painters. I hope to be able to revise and add to the list as more information becomes available.
Brenda Middleton has kindly supplied the following names which date from about 1957.
Posie Gilders
Doris Parker - Forewoman
Freda Elliott (Nee Booth), Margaret Cox (Nee Kinsey), Kath Armes, Frances Ainscoe (Nee Mountser), Evelyn Jones, Sylvia Howson, Elaine Whit, Jill Bland, Mary Townsend, Margaret Meakin (Nee Johnson), Margaret Gregory, Irene Jackson, Janet Atkinson, Pat Sale, Myra Harrison, Dilys Henson.
Japan Gilders
Pauline Jackson, Elaine Hardwick, Mavis Hardwick, Pat Batty, Marilyn ?, June Chart, Sylvia Potter.
Older Gilders (Posie)
Margaret Lane, Brenda Bratby, Lois Licence, Gloria Upton.
The Sheldon Family (Kiln Workers)
Tom Sheldon, Emily Sheldon, Sheila Sheldon, Alan Sheldon, Tony Sheldon, Peter Sheldon.
It should be noted that apart from the information above there are no records of gilders, burnishers or any other staff members available for the period as far as I can establish.