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Lockwoods Canning Factory, Long Sutton

A photo of a lorry outside Lockwoods Canning Factory at Long Sutton.  Year unknown.

Who has memories of Lockwoods, or knows when it first opened or finally closed ?

Click on image to enlarge

AOS P 2706 lockwoods long sutton

193 Responses

  1. Looks a lot like the front of Princes canning factory today, albeit with substantial modifications (only the profile and downpipes give it away). Premier Foods bought Lockwoods out of receivership in the 1980s, and Premier sold the canning factory to Princes in 2011.

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    2. You missed a couple of name changes out, Charlie. I do believe you that Lockwoods were bought out by Premier foods but when I moved here in 2000 is was called HL Foods, before becoming known as Premier and then Princes.

      http://letslookagain.com/2015/08/yes-we-can-a-history-of-smedley-of-wisbech/

      The factory was started as Smedleys over at Wisbech. I remember learning that Smedleys was a pea factory and after being sold, it was merged with Lockwoods of Ambergate, Derbyshire which is where I am from.

      There are so many changes in the food industry, companies will just buy out certain brands and either leave some brands to fade into obscurity or new companies buy the recipes and all they need. I remember factories near kings Lynn which were known as Del Monte but it was full of Venni trucks shunting stuff between the main HL /premier foods at Kings Lynn, Wisbech and Little Sutton . I also remember being told by another driver that the factory at clenchwarton /west lynn was the ‘relabelling plant’ where all the out of date stuff had its dates and codes scrubbed off them and they were then reprinted with a few more years on them and repackaged and shipped back out.

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        1. Good day Geoff.

          This is a long shot but perhaps you might be able to help?

          I worked in that building when it was still called HL foods around 2002.
          There was someone name John Kidman working there.
          I am desperate to find him.

          Are you perhaps able to help me? please?

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      2. Entirely agree about the changes in the food industry making it hard to follow who owned what and when , but I am aware that the Farrow business had canning operations in Wisbech and possibly Long Sutton. I don’t know whether they were competing factories to Smedleys or whether it was as a result of Colmans selling the canning side on, they ended up as part of Smedleys. Certainly the Farrows Marrowfat Processed Peas brand that survives to this day found its way into the Princess stable.

        The Farrow concern is the one that should be celebrated in South Holland as it was developed originally from a Tomato “Catsup” bottling concern which seems to have been very much a cottage industry from census returns tracking the life of Joseph Farrow Senior who started life in Whaplode Drove a Labourer and ended it a Gentleman. His son and daughter in law really took the business off before selling to Colman’s who were probably after the Mustard operation that had been developed. http://unilever-archives.com/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=GB1752.CON%2fJF&pos=4

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        1. Hi John, Thanks so much for updates. We ought to have a coffee and see how we can develop local history regards Geoff

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        2. Hi Alan,
          I know this post is from a very long time ago but I’ll try my luck and see if you get this reply. My name is Rachel I’m from Swansea, South Wales and I have a very close friend who is 94 and is originally from a village near long Sutton where he owned and ran a haulage/transport company and one of his main clients was Lockwoods Foods. Being a man that shall we say “got around a bit” In his time i.e. fought in WW2 in the airforce where he was shot down and emergency land the plane himself and survived, he wasn’t a pilot as he was 1/2 a inch too short, he was a rear air gunner/wireless operator. He then went to live and work in India for the RAF towards the end of the war and stayed there for a few years after the war ended. When he came back to the UK and to his home town where he started up his transport company. So I enjoy nothing better than sitting down for hours listening to his stories about the war, his time in India, Lockwoods, the get togethers and “business meetings” Down the

          Pub with Philip Lockwood and one afternoon I googled Lockwoods foods and came across this website and this photo of the lorry outside the factory. When I showed him this he was almost positive that the lorry was one of his. His name is Percy Pattison and I know at one point his company was called Pattison Holdings so I just wondered if you happened to know, know of or remember him? I’m not sure how long he had his company for but I know he retired in 1985 and moved to sunny Swansea to be closer to his son who had moved here years before for work. I understand it’s a really really really long shot that you might know him but I have to ask cause I know it would make his day if I could go back to him and tell him that he’s still remembered after all these years.
          Thank you so much in advance and any information you can give me is greatly appreciated.
          Rachel Wilkinson

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          1. Thanks for your enquiry. We will do our best to get some answers. Regards Geoff

          2. Wonder if they would remember John Collis? My Grandfather. He too served in The RAF, pilot and trainer. Then worked for Lockwoods and Peasant boy I have been putting family history together for sometime now. Always welcome new stories and contacts.

          6. Hi Rachel my mum and dad worked at Lockwood when I was very young I still have an uncle and friend s who live around that area now my dad s surname was sleight he married my mum who came over to work from Italy that’s how they met .

          8. Yes he was the transport manager I used to drive a lorry working from the Boston factory

          10. I remember Percy Pattison. He was the gropp Transport Manager when i started in the transport Office from School in 1974

          11. Good evening,
            Did Mr Pattison live in Boston ? If he’s the man I believe he is he was actually Lockwood Foods transport manager. He was a gentleman in the full sense of the word. When Lockwood Foods went into receivership in the early 1980 ‘s the transport under Mr Pattisons leadership was still in profit. He used to have a Vauxhall Cavalier as is company car , possibly TDO 834S and later when he worked for Lockwood Distribution, owned by Mainland Market Deliveries he bought himself a Vauxhall Chevette. The man I remember was also a rear gunner in the RAF and the only injury I remember him telling me about was across the back of one of his hands. Mr Pattison was not over tall with bushy side burns. I hope he is still alive as he gave me an excellent introduction and grounding into transport.

      3. Absolutely spot on with the name changes Jeff. I also arrived here in 2000 and was married for a short while to a knob who drove nights for Venni shunting between Kings Lynn, Little Sutton and Wizbekistan.
        One thing I noticed today having cut through Hundreds Lane from the A17 and drove beside the Little Sutton factory is the smaller letters at the bottom of the standing Princes sign board, which said they are a part of the Mitsubishi Corporation! It rather took me by surprise. I know that many years ago, Imperial Tobacco bought out Smedleys but Mitsubishi??? I suppose they are just diversifying so if one business is in trouble, another is unlikely to be.

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  2. That truck was probably the last Lockwoods as a stand alone concern ever bought. It was a 180bhp ERF and the regular driver was Ian, also known as “Yanto”. I also occasionally drove it when he was on holiday.

    Alan.

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        1. Hi Chris,
          I worked at Lockwoods in the summer of 1975. I remember a very fine and friendly gentleman, working probably as a supervisor, who used to be a Spitfire pilot during the 2nd WW. He was proudly telling us about his war adventures and what a nightmare he was for the Germans. He always used to carry in his pocket a bottle of wine he made from various fruits and vegetables, including carrots, blackcurrants and strawberries. It is
          a shame that I do not remember his name, but I fondly remember his great friendship and generosity. May God rest him in peace. I hope he was your grandfather, Mr. John Collis.
          Cheers.

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          2. My husband worked several summers in Lockwoods and has fond memories of Charlie Wine.

          3. Please tell us some of those memories. Hopefully this post will put you in touch with ex work mates. Regards Geoff

          4. That would have been Charlie Foxwell, he did a roaring trade with his home made hooch especially to students and temp workers during the summer “Campaign”
            I was the first plant chemist for the soft drinks plant from 1974 until 1979. Plant manager was Alan Ward, production manager was Jock Geddes

          5. Thanks for memories. Please tell us more. Regards Geoff
            It would be good to collect memories of Lockwoods any idea how we can do it.

          6. I was a summer employee at Lockwood between 1971 and 1976. One of many students from Northern Ireland who were daft enough to buy the factory chemist’s alcoholic concoctions. The most sought after jobs were in the pea vining shed due to the availability of long hours of work from early morning to late night. Remember taking the factory bus back to the company hostel where we crashed exhausted and fully clothed until called back to work the following morning. Hard work but immeasurably enjoyable.

        2. Chris Wale, When I was working as a student in Lockwoods in 1958 and 1959 (see my contribution below) A Mr Collis was one of the directors. P.S. Is there a delay in posting comments or should it be instant? My earlier comment has not appeared

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          1. I am sorry could you re post? I normally respond within 24hrs. I don’t know what’s gone wrong. There isn’t a backlog. Sorry Geoff

          4. Hello Henry, I cannot see your contribution below, would you be kind enough to email me. I also found out my Grandfather lived in India for two years after the war. I am hoping to visit his grave in Lincolnshire this year.

    2. Hello Alan. I have been doing a bit of family history and tracing. My Grandfather was JC John Collis. Would you by any chance remember him? Or know of any older members of Lockwoods who may have know him. He married Anthea or Angela.

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        2. I’ve fond memories working summers at Lockwoods as a seasonal employee in the pea vining shed between 1972 and 1976. I was a student at Queen’s university in Belfast. Remember the factory chemist used fruit byproduct to concoct various potent “wines”. Needless to say he was a popular man. Wages were actual pay packets!

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      2. Chris,
        I was a management trainee at Lockwoods Foods in Long Sutton from 1962 to1964.
        I remember your grandfather. He was Production Director, a bit too far up the organisation to have much contact with me! I also remember an Angela.(if it is the same one). She was in Personnel I think.
        Let me know if I can be of any help and I’ll test my memory bank a bit further.

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          1. Hello Geoff, I would like to talk with Elizabeth Richards, but unable to reply. Can you contact her to ask if she has an email address or phone number please.

            Many thanks
            Chris.

          2. Hello Geoff, I would like to talk with Elizabeth Richards, but unable to reply. Can you contact her to ask if she has an email address or phone number please.

            Many thanks
            Chris.

          3. I have given her your email address and asked her to contact you.
            Regards
            Geoff

          2. I have found this site as I was looking up Savile Row, London. I worked for the Dyer brothers in Savile Row as a secretary. They were incredibly kind people. I was at the offices when the Beatles, who were in the Apple building next door to Lockwoods, played on the roof. I used to put the Lockwoods Foods magazine together. Happy Days.

        4. Hello Michael, if you have any memories or can offer me anything I would be most grateful. I am establishing things as I go along and it is a most interesting journey for me.

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      3. He was one of the directors in 1959. He married Anthea Stow, daughter of Phillip Stow who was a butcher in Long Sutton.

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    3. Ian Ricket was the driver aka Yanto he l8r drove for lockwoods distribution 1980 – 1995 I drove there too

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  3. I was a fruit importer and remember in the late 60’s and early 70’s selling Lockwoods big quantities of fresh Jaffa grapefruit which they peeled and canned. Can’t remember the name of the boss chap I dealt with…also sent some supplies up to a Lockwood factories at Forfar Scotland. Does anyone remember fresh grapefruit arriving and being processed at Long Sutton. great to find this site. regards Bill Haynes

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      1. Hello Geoff. I have been doing a some family history investigation. I also had previous contact with a Bryan Harloch who passed away sometime ago. I have also established the location of my Grandfathers ashes in Lincolnshire. Do please email me chw212@btinternet.com

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  4. Can anyone remember Eric Powell I would like to know more info I think he was manager.

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  5. I worked in Lockwoods Long Sutton during the summers of 1975, 1976 and 1977. I was one of a large number of Irish students who came over every year to help with the canning of strawberries and peas. The girls stayed in little self-catering flats while the boys were carefully supervised in dormitories under the beady eyes of an elderly couple across the garden from the girls’s flats. At the height of the season it was very hard work with the girls maybe working 12 hour shifts while the boys worked even longer. I was lucky in that I worked in the labs with the lovely elderly chemist MrEaton, during the day only going to the factory floor in the evening. Hard work but great fun and many a romance began and finished to the background of the peas and strawberries!

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    1. I worked in the pea vining shed from 1962 to 1976. I was one of those Irish students from Queens Uni! I remember the dorms and loooong hours. Locals were incredibly warm and will never forget their “morning!” Greeting on the bus that took us to and from the factory.

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  6. Hi, i think my great grandfather used to be the manager there? His name was Fred Claxton, married to Margaret who passed away when my grandmother was just 5 years old. They had two girls Tonia an julie. If anyone has any memories or info that would be great. Fred passed away in 1964 age 54

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  7. I worked Summer of ’67 at Lockwood’s with a mate, both of us from a small market town in Northern Ireland though there were also 2 or 3 guys from Belfast (we were all referred to as ‘those Irish guys’ LOL). Worked long hours on the broad beans (‘the hopper’ is something I’ll not forget easily!). Production manager was, I think, called Trevor. I remember the ‘canteen’, was about the only time we could socialize. Our ‘digs’ (remember that?) were at a British Legion Hall in Terrington St. Clement, then we’d get a minibus to Long Sutton. On leaving, I got the bus to King’s Lynn, train to The Smoke, then the ‘boat train’ from Euston to Belfast. Such fond memories of those folk, if I hadn’t already been a confirmed AngloPhile, I would have been afterwards!!

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    1. Thanks for memories. Let’s hope we get lots of replies. I know we have a few Lockwood watchers. Regards Geoff

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    2. Hello jim webb,
      I was working at lockwoods in 1967/8 and we must have worked there at the same time i was THE WELSHMAN.
      And worked outside in what we called THE YARD loading / unloading beans,peas, strawberries everything in all kinds of weathers. I was aged about 18 and just left WALES and ended up working at LOCKWOODS..
      SEE MY OTHER ENTRIES ON THIS.
      I lodged in a pub in LONG SUTTON called THE WHITE LION run by a mr&mrs macnamara.
      I loved every minute .
      ALL THE BEST,
      MR G JONES

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    3. Mr Battisti
      I was a student at Queen’s University Belfast and worked in the summer months of 1958 and 1959 at Lockwoods or ECP as it was called. In 1960 and 1961 I worked in Fropax in King’s Lynn. The bulk of the female labour at Lockwoods was supplied by about 200 Italian girls who were housed in a well defended compound behind the factory. Further details supplied on request.

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  8. I used to work for Brian, Jenks Co Ltd who had canned fruits and vegetables packed under the “Peasant Boy” label (initials P.B. were the initials of Philip B. Lockwood) by Lockwoods Foods…this goes back to the late 50’s/60’s/70’s. I knew several people that worked at Lockwoods at that time. They also had a office in London near Piccadilly Circus and I used to go there on business.
    Ihave lived in Australia since 1971

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    2. It wasn’t the factory chemist, it was a supervisor called Charlie Foxwell. I remember his products well. I worked there from 1974-79.
      Chris Quirke

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    4. Dennis. John McCutcheon here. Just seen your message when looking up Lockwood Foods for memories.
      How are you?

      John

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    5. Some local cavers found a can in an old mine in Derbyshire with; ‘peasant boy beans’ on it. Just out of interest, I googled ‘peasant boy beans’ and this comment is the ONLY PIECE OF INFORMATION that comes up!! I would have expected more!

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      1. “Peasant Boy” brand products were canned by Lockwood Foods and were sold by a company called Brian, Jenks & Co. Ltd. They were also canned food importers of various fruits and vegetables under various other brand names.
        “Peasant Boy” initials P B …..Philip B. Lockwood. That’s what I was told way back.

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      2. I remember Melvyn very well, we used to lunch together.
        He was with Brian Jenks and then went to Beaulah Benedict both taken over by Lockwood.
        My name is Dennis Andrews, we go back nearly 60 years. It would be a miracle if he remembered me

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      3. I remember Melvyn. Worked with him at Brian, Jenks and was still in the same office when he switched to Beaulah Benedict. We were luncheon companions for quite a while.
        Must be almost 60 years ago.
        How is Melvyn?

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        1. Unfortunately Melvyn died 2017. He had happy days working at Brian Jenks
          And Lockwoods.

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          1. I’m really sorry to hear that. Melvyn and I used to go out to lunch almost daily. I had no contact with him after I left in 1967.
            I now live in Australia and have done since 1971.
            Remember Nelvyn from Brian. Jenks and then he moved over to Beaulah, Benedict….was he there long?

  9. I worked at Lockwoods in 1965 ! Lived in Tydd St Giles,went by bicycel every morning to Tydd St.Mary,put the bike behind a hedge and catch the Lockwoods bus ,comming from Wisbech,Untill I meet Susan Keightley,we worked together at Lockwoods in the laboratory under Mr.Eaton.I meet some very friendly and helpfull people there(as I did’nt spoke any english) Names I can remember are Tony Fetherstone,Joan Ward,Molly Wilford,Jenny Bryant,Pete Withe and Hugh Barton. Enjoyed every minute !!

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    3. Hello Heidi, do you remember John Collis? He was my Grandfather, I am putting a lot of information together on family history. I have also had contact with Jim Donald too.

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  10. Hello,
    I worked at lockwoods circa 1967/8/9 . I worked as a labourer in what was known as ‘THE YARD’ unloading strawberries , carrots , peas etc i can remember only three peoples names one was a MR BILL SPARKES from sutton bridge other was a MR CHRILLY who was one of the managers and an ex UKRAINIAN POW first name of NESTOR (i think thats howyou it spelt).
    To earn extra wages i also done a bit of nightwatchman duties.

    GREAT DAYS.

    Reply

    1. Hello,
      Not sure of the name but possible a john or jack (surname i dont remember) he was in charge of where i and others worked ( outside in what was known as the yard) this person as i recall smoked roll your own cigarettes wore a flat cap and wore glasses and had a bookeeper who helped him. Had sort of red face and podgy nose.
      This was circa 1967/8/9
      Thats about it.
      Thanks.

      Reply

  12. Just like to add after leaving LOCKWOODS went to work for GARNERS GRAIN MERCHANTS, SUTTON BRIDGE for a couple of years before coming back home to WALES.
    can only remember one workmate and his name was i think RODNEY SPARKES who lived in SUTTON BRIDGE.
    hard work but great times they were.

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  13. There was a canning factory in Long Sutton before World War 2 as evidenced by this piece from the Lincolnshire Echo of 27 August 1937 (page 9, col 1),

    “WOMAN FLUNG FROM LORRY. How woman was flung from a lorry into a seed field and Injured was described when Cecil James Clark, lorry driver, of Prospect-place, Wisbech, was summoned for failing to report an accident at Holbeach on July 26, failing to keep a current record. of hours worked and driving without supervision while the holder of provisional licence. Clark was driving a lorry conveying women working at Long Sutton canning factory, and swerved across the road into a ditch. He was lined £1 and 7s costs.”

    I have a feeling that the factory may have been originally built by Joseph Farrow & Son Ltd which was formed following the sale of the mustard and ketchup making concern establish by Joseph Farrow and his wife Mary (nee Cragg) to Colman’s of Norwich. The Farrows Marrowfat Peas brand now belongs to Princess Foods I believe. The Farrows are related to me by marriage. The wife of Joseph Farrow Senior and my Gt Gt Grandmother were sisters.

    As surviving members of the Farrow family then living in Peterborough were kind enough to pass on their personal memories of my Great Grandfather William Morton Bailey, born in Whaplode Drove in 1855 Auctioneer and Managing Director of the Peterborough Omnibus & Carriage Company Ltd Horsebus company for the book on the history of Peterborough Tramways published in the early 1970’s, I have tried to return the favour by expanding my family history research into this family.

    Some of that has been picked up by others and expanded upon and a bit about the history of Farrows Peas can be found here http://letslookagain.com/tag/farrows-peas/

    I have this evening stumbled across an obituary of Joseph Farrows’ Juniors wife Mary (nee Cragg) which includes a personal recollection by Sir Richard Winfrey, that answers many questions and adds so much to what I know about the early days of this business which at it’s heyday was a huge national concern.

    This discovery is of such significance that it probably warrants it’s own article – I have bookmarked the contribution by Sir Richard to the Boston Guardian (page 6 Saturday 22 May 1926) and will transcribe it in due course as it has not been transcribed on the British Newspaper Archive website. I will drop you a line when I have completed it (likely will be after 12 December)

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  14. I came across this when I was looking for the history of Lockwood Foods. I worked for Mason & Morton who were the agents for Maschinen Fabrik August Herbort in the 1960’s and 70’s. I used to visit the area to companies such as Lockwood Foods, Smedleys, Findus and others. I believe the Chief Engineer at the time of Lockwood Foods was Bill Spenceley. We supplied Herbort Striggers, used to pull the stalks out of fruit such as blackcurrants and cherries. We also supplied pea and bean processing equipment. The only other name I remember was Peter Cronin who was the Chief Engineer of Smedleys.

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  15. There were 3 of us — students of Phys Ed in Aberdeen
    We worked during summer holiday 1957 or8
    I packed tins in boxes and took turns on the moving belt
    There were busloads of Italian workers also
    All of us lived in a large empty mansion house
    If the berries came in we worked the longest stretch was 7 am till 2 the following morning ,but we didn’t mind. We didn’t work if it was wet
    Everyone was very kind to us ! Happy memories

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  16. Here’s some info about the origins of Lockwoods Foods:
    Philip Lockwood was first an apprentice at Smedleys in Spalding.
    In 1934 he started Eastern Counties Preserves, which became Lockwoods Foods Ltd.
    Philip Lockwood bought the site in Bridge Street, Long Sutton, where he built his first plant.

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  17. Hi I am a litter picker in Droitwich, Worcestershire and on clearing a roundabout I have found a Lockwoods Cola can which is most probably 1970’s or early 1980’s as it is a ring pull can . It is in excellent condition and I googled it and found your site. Contact me and I will send some photos if you are interested ? Kind regards Clive

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    2. David Spenceley
      David Spenceley My Grandad was Chief Group Engineer for Lockwoods when the family owned it. I seem to remember the Long Sutton site, one in Scotland that mainly did fruit and a site in France where old man Lockwood lived.
      Susan Crocker
      Susan Crocker I was born in Long Sutton. My dad had a large allotment and we use to pick our strawberries and take to Lockwards to sell. My sisters and mum worked there and at Christmas the children (me) went to a party by bus to either Spalding or Boston. 1950s.

      Nigel Robert Burch
      Nigel Robert Burch Now Princes, owned by Mitsubishi. I believe Lockwood’s also had factories in Boston and Wisbech, they were taken over by H L Holdings I think.

      James Hart
      James Hart This place https://goo.gl/maps/iQ413sRfChzNvptv8
      Was Lockwoods, then HL Foods now Princes.

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      1. David, I have just read your comments. Do you remember a John Collis? I am trying to put together information about family at the moment.

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  18. My name is David Cobbold and I live in Wisbech. In 1972 I worked at what was then the Long Sutton branch of the NatWest bank. I remember two names from Lockwoods – Mr.Sprague – would he have been General Manager? and Mr Tinkler who lived in KL and I think may have been part of the accounts department. I also remember that Mr Philip Lockwood used to travel often to the Continent (Switzerland?) where Lockwoods Foods had a subsidiary company.

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    1. Thanks for youR memories. Much appreciated. Do you have any other memories of your time in Long Sutton.
      Regards
      Geoff

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    2. I remember Mr Sprague and Mr Tinkler. They were indeed Accountants, they regularly came to the office of Brian, Jenks in Cowcross Street in London.

      Reply

  20. my name is Maria vella maltese i use to work at lock woods canning factory in long sutton and the hostel was in holbeach . i still remember some people one person in particular his name was joswis greco and a another tony they were italian.they lived in stanground peterbrough,i would love to here if they are o.k

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  21. My grandfather, Tom Hill, was a painter and decorator and on the second World War painted the roof of the canning factory so that it was camouflaged, presumably from enemy bombing.

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  22. I worked as a labourer at lockwoods factory in Carnoustie in 1962 and was offered a place as a management trainee at Long Sutton. I worked there until 1965. I lodged in Sutton Bridge with Mrs Hoole. I remember drinking in the Ship in Long Sutton.

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  23. I worked as a Sales Rep for Lockwoods Foods. I started in May ( approximately) 1982 and left in November 1983. I started after the business had been bought by Hillsdown Holdings. Martin Dowthwaite was the MD and I started as part of a young sales team covering the West Midlands. I think my contact in customer services was a lady called Margaret who was always very helpful. I enjoyed my time at Lockwoods. It was the start of a successful career in sales. I retired from selling after 36 years of continuous employment.

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    1. Let’s hope you will find some nice connection. Regards Geoff
      I have someone trying to do Smedley’s any suggestions
      Regards
      Geoff

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  24. My husband worked in London office of Lockwoods. He worked for Mr Dyer. His name
    Was Melvyn Metcalfe.

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  25. What a pleasant surprise! I worked in Lockwoods (or Eastern Counties Preserves to use its company name – it had factories in Scotland) in the summers of 1958 and 1959. I was in King’s Lynn recently and a gent I was talking to told me that the plant was still operating but I was not able to see it. I did call at the plant in 1998 when I was in the area and was shown around by a manager. Naturally the plant has shrunk in terms of the workforce ‘ Hundreds worked there in my day including 200 Italian females who were housed in a compound within . the grounds. I still have photographs of some of them and a photograph of the students (mainly Northern Irish Scottish and English} who were housed in a British Legion-owned nissen hut in Terrington St Clements a few miles away. I have not yet read the contributions above so apologize for any repetition.

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  26. I am wearing a watch that was presented to my late uncle Foster Richardson, 20 years service on 25th July 1974. He to spent part of the war years in the RAF as a navigator

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      1. Hello. As part of a recent caving/mine exploration trip in Matlock/Derbyshire we came across a can of ‘peasant boy’ beans in tomato sauce, sadly not intact but could not find any information on the brand name or age of the can. The only info I could find lead me to this page!

        Black painted can with green writing. Hope someone can confirm

        Regards

        Reply

  27. I worked for Lockwood from 1974-79 and was the initial factory chemist at the soft drinks cannery. Plant manager was Alan Ward, production manager was Jock Geddes. Production planning was Stan Fuller. Warehouse manager was Miles (momentarily forgotten surname). Plant engineer was Roger Carslake, seamer mechanic ‘Toby’ Tyler and then Gerald Neech, who eventually married my lab assistant Sue Fox.Other names were Bill Spencely,chief engineer mentioned above. He was retired, but still came in on a regular basis. Richard Buskiewicz was then chief engineer. Project engineers for the soft drinks plant was Don Moorse and Dan Nesbitt (chemist). Group chief chemist was Mike wright, who I knew before when we both worked for Beecham foods. His assistant was Judith Wren, who described herself as assistant chief chemist rather than assistant TO the chief chemist. Customer services was Val (again can’t remember surname), but she bred English setters and won at Crufts as best in show after I left. Her kennels were Valsett, and it comes up if you Google it. Had little to do with the main fruit & veg cannery, but chemist there was Ken Richards, his assistant was Roger Bacon. When I started, factory manager was Peter Dawson, but was Roy Dixon when I left. In 1978 we contract packed Pepsi Cola for a solid 2 weeks on behalf of Schweppes((Home) Ltd. A production dream as a single product, no line changeovers. It was after this production that I was ‘invited’ to apply for a job at Schweppes Fareham factory. I remained with Cadbury Schweppes until I retired. I still have photos of the factory and remember almost every bit of machinery we used. As plant was installed &commissioned by reading manuals, lots of leeway given by Taffy Edwards the union convenor under custom and practise, and I was the” resident expert “ on the Filtec underfill detector and the TrioMatic proportionate/carbonator. I have fond memories of my time in Lincolnshire, but do not miss the harsh winters.
    Other names I recall were Peter White, chief seamer mechanic, Les ? Senior electrician, Tony Gregory , engineer and his assistant Gerry ? Development lab Mr Eaton( again retired but often in), and his Scottish assistant Iain ?. Purchasing was Brian Digweed.
    Managing director at the time was Colin Lazenby, and he stoppped in his car at least twice to give me a lift when I was walking into work

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      1. Geoff, did you really mean, pleases tell me more?
        I have many memories, amusing and otherwise of those days. I look back in amazement that in my mid twenties I took on the job and wrote up and devised most of the lab procedures. I was “ left to it”, no interference from above. It was great. I remember when the first lorry load of gear arrived on site, and a great fuss was made of unloading it and everything was handled with kid gloves and the first crates were gingerly moved into position. Don Nesbitt one of the project managers was fussing around like an old mother hen. When we opened the first crates, they contained nothing more than graded gravels and sand for the water treatment filters, and we handled them as if we were treading on eggshells. Don Nesbitt was a scouser and came originally from the Hunters cannery in Liverpool, also part of Lockwoods. (Known for their “Hunter’s Handy Hams”). The water treatment plant was a “ precipitator” plant made by the American company Potter and Rayfield, and its main objective was to reduce alkalinity, not soften the water. I knew the theory (Clark’s process, Google it), but could not get the results required for good process water based on the chemical dosing in the handbook. I spent ages on top of the plant measuring flow rate. I knew the diameter of the tank and measured the rate of rise of water. I recalculated time and time again, but could not get it right. One day the penny dropped that this was made in the USA, and American gallons are smaller than Imperial gallons. Redid my sums and changed lime dosing calculations, and lo & behold it then worked and dosed perfectly.
        We originally started off on 211 x 410 1/2 three piece cans, and seamed on the tinplate end. 2 types of tinplate, OSW for general use, higher gauge OSG tinplate for fruit containing products,
        Pure tin solder as high acid products, with external side striping for export packs. Coding was embossed on the steel end during seaming. After about 3 years we transferred to 209 necked in cans with the makers end steel, and we seamed on the aluminium EOE .( Easy Open End, otherwise known as a ring pull end). This made seaming a lot easier. Coding was then by a Mark O Print ink coder after the can drier.
        Equipment listing is as follows, I’m 99% sure of its accuracy.
        Alvey sweep depalletiser handling Busse packs of cans fed to plastic clad wire ropeway through a gravity fed rinser into a 40 head Crown filler. This was rated at 600cpm (3000 doz per hour). This fed into an MB490 six head seamer with driven lifters and CO2 under cover gassing ( similar to steam exhaust on the fruit and veg seamers). From here through an FT12 Filtec underfill detector and into a Sander Hansen can warmer/pasteuriser . Next was a Metal Box air blower to dry the cans, another FT12 to pick up leakers once warmed up , a bi directional accumulator table and then to a Mather and Platt case drop packer, this was replaced with a Metal Box tray wrapper and shrink wrap unit when we transferred to 209 cans. Final stage was an Alvey palletiser, 110 cases per pallet.
        The syrup preparation area was via a Bran & Luebbe 10 head stream blending unit. Great on paper, a PIA to run. Slowly evolved lots of “blends”, as impossible to control small dose units of flavours, and it wouldn’t handle thick caramel when cold. The syrup was then fed to a Crown Cork and Seal Tri O Matic unit that fed deaerated water to be cooled, proportioned , and then carbonated. The manufacturer’s plate on this bit of kit stated manufactured specially for J&J Beaulah, a subsidiary of Lockwoods originally based in Boston. Never found why this name was used on the kit.
        Finally refrigeration units were twin Trane compressors, linked to an externally mounted BAC (Baltimore Air Coil company) evaporative condenser.
        Front sugar tanks were from Kenneth Forbes in Downham Market. 6 tonne horizontal CO2 tank was from Distillers. When 24 shifts were introduced, a 2nd hand vertical air products tank was installed.
        One amusing CO2 incident was when the fridge unit failed and the bursting disc went and we lost all the CO2. We lost production for at least 2 days. Colin Lazenby was furious and wanted to know why we hadn’t phoned around other canneries in the area to ‘borrow’ some CO2. I don’t think he ever got the grasp of that you can’t send a lorry to bring back some gas
        A bit boring to the non technical, but I knew my way around every inch of that plant.
        Other names I have remembered are Dorothy was the filler operator, and in the “Group hut” at the front was Les? Symmonds, personnel manager.
        I was last at the plant in the mid 1980’s reviewing the plant to contract pack for Schweppes again. Iain ? Ex product development was then plant chemist, and I spent much of my time educating current personnel how to set up and control pre-carbonation, and water treatment plant. No one knew how to trigger a water purge to flush out the lime slurry dosing pump. It was all there in the original machinery manuals, and myself and Jock Geddes at start up read them all inside out and upside down to learn how to use the kit, so we learnt the hard way. It was the blind leading the blind, as the commissioning engineer from The Crown Cork Company was new to the job, having just left the Navy and never worked with this type of machinery before. I still have a warm feeling over what we achieved, and we recovered the capital cost of the plant within the first 2 years of operation. We even got a thank you note from Colin Lazenby. I got married in1975 and was almost divorced a year later as I spent so much time in the factory just making sure things were running well. This Was never recognised, and bonus payments were unheard of. Still married to the same girl by the way.
        A final thought is how I hate people referring to ‘tins’. Tin is an abbreviation of a ‘tin’ can, the container itself is an abbreviation of ‘canister’. Tinplate is now not the only material used for making cans. I always point out that I worked in a cannery, NOT a tinnery!
        Enough said.

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    2. Hi – its Valserie Watkin – I worked at Lockwoods from 1968 for a total of 45 years . Starting as an office Junior, in the field department and then the rest of the time dealing with food complaints which I really enjoyed.

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    3. I remember you Chris. I worked in the carbonated drinks plant first on the alvey stacking machine then the Bran and Luebbe mixing platform eventually became Production Foreman. Greetings Brian.

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    6. Chris, thanks for the detailed employee recollections from your time at Lockwoods. I would be grateful if you please confirm the Development Lab person was Edward F. Eaton who also set up and worked at food packaging factories in N. Ireland during the 1950s and ’60s. If you remember any other interesting facts about him I’d be glad to know and can forward you what details I have found out so far.

      Many thanks

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    7. Hi Chris, l found your blog about your time working for Lockwoods very interesting, it bought back many memories, my stepfather was Don Nesbitt and he was the chemist you mentioned.

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    8. What powers of recollection you have Chris!

      I was a summer student worker in the vining shed from ‘72 to ‘76

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    9. Hiya – Valerie Watkin ne Isted – I worked at Lockwoods from 1968 for 45 years in the office. Yes I own Valsett English Setters and my dog was Supreme Champion at Crufts 1988. I worked as a office junior – field Dept and then finally dealing with food complaints which I loved.

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  28. Geoff, I’ve remembered the senior electrician’s name, it was Les Chapman. Always wore a grey warehouse coat and a blue hard hat. Seemed to be a hierarchy in colours, as engineers wore maroon overalls, electricians navy blue. Our ‘on call’ electrician was Nobby Clark. We didn’t justify a full time sparks.
    There was also a part time cooper (retired) who did odd work in the summer. Off the back road from the drinks plant walking towards the boiler house, there was a patch of land on the right hand side fitted with rails where they stored fruit pulp in wooden barrels. I think it was pulped strawberries that had not been fit to can. The cooper was well into his late 70’s early 80’s and he repaired damaged staves. I had several chats with him. His draw shaves and tools were years old and had been passed down through the generations. He was very proud he had been apprenticed
    to a gin distiller, in his opinion the purest spirit that tested the skill of a cooper for selecting staves, as ant fault would taint the gin. His son was a fitter at the factory ( I think his name was Dave, should remember as went out with him for a pint a few times). He did have a special skill in as much he was one of the few people who could splice the wire rope for can runways, and was hired out at times to other canneries. He was small in stature and had blonde hair and a well trimmed beard. This patch of land was behind the FLT mechanics hut/ workshop. Dick ? .I remember him as he had a yellow triumph Spitfire with a GT6 motor, and fantastic paintwork on his bonnet that he overlaid with a net curtain and then sprayed black over the bodywork yellow. Fantastic finish. He also had a Berkeley, which had been my first car. At the time my car was a Citroen 2CV, blue, cheapest new car on the market at the time. KVF683P. It came from Sluice Garage, Denver. This is why I remembered the sugar tanks came from Downham Market.

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    1. Hi Chris, I would create a section dedicated to Lockwoods. I know a lot of people contact me about Lockwoods and wood love to relive their memories. Regards Geoff

      Reply

      1. Hi Geoff, I thought this was a section dedicated to Lockwoods? Not for posting, but by all means contact me via my email if you want to discuss further

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        1. I am trying to gain insight and information about my Grandfather John Collis, if you can help in anyway Chris.

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  29. My grandfather worked at Lockwood’s approximately 45 years ago. His name was Edgar Titchmarsh. I always remember the cans of ‘surprise’ foods in my grandparents larder as no labels on tins !!!! Not sure they were supposed to be there. He never spoke about his time there so was lovely to read these comments.

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    2. The unlabelled tins were sold to staff at discount, my dad also brought some home, you never knew what to expect for tea!

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  30. My mother was the Matron of the housing compound in mid 1960’s. – Mrs. Smith.
    There were Italian girls, a few Greek and a few African.
    My mother also worked as a secretary in the Sales Rep department (a stand alone building) and it also housed the nurse’s office.
    We lived in a bungalow in the compound. There were railway tracks behind it.
    They held dances in the cafeteria .
    I would bicycle to and from Peele Secondary Modern.

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  31. Chris Quirke, you missed most of the fun when we had a bottling line installed next to where the pasteuriser stood. Basically a heap of second hand junk that filled glass bottles. After multiple explosions under a 54 bottle filler they decided to forget it

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  32. Mr Louis Backer my partner of many years lived in Long Sutton he was a student in London where we met in the the early 1980’s, in the summer he returned home to his student job at Smedleys cannery in Spalding. He returned with so many boxes of red discount kidney beans that I nick named him ‘Beanie’. I think ! he mentioned sugar beets too but .. Do you remember Louis Backer I believe he worked in packing and boxing ? He was musical and played drums in his spare time.

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  34. My Dad worked at Lockwoodsfrom the early seventies to around 1983 or so – Ken Johnston, Quality control manager I think.

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  35. I worked in the lab in around 1954/5. We had chemist who was developing a range of fruit drinks. An inspector would come to check they weren’t alcoholic , how ever he didn’t ever check the science equipment. It was a great fun when students arrived and came from all over the world and I made some good friends, One summer we had lots of women from Malta who came to work and live in the on site hostel. Soon the road outside was full of men looking to find their “relatives’. I remember the guys working in the packing area created secret rooms out of the boxes, where they played cards or had a rest. One guy walked around all day carrying an empty box and looking important! Didn’t do any work but it must have been difficult keeping up the pretence.On payday another would queue up twice with a different name and get 2 lots of wages.When my parents moved I stayed and lived in the hostel for a while. We were sort of locked in but a friend, an Irish student, and I would scale the 8ft fence and walk down the road to a transport cafe for egg, chips and peas. One night, on return, she was hesitating about jumping down and said”Im frightened, I am 8 months pregnant ” I took her to stay with my Mum and Dad and she had a lovely daughter . Sadly the Irish nuns came and took the baby away I was fortunate to be employed as staff throughout the year, but many were on seasonal contracts.They worked very long hours when the fruit and veg were in season and laid off at other times.

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  36. I was in the Army (1977) Royal Engineers with Steve Lockwood who was a member of the Lockwood family.

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  39. I would like to make contact with John McCutcheon who responded to my post.
    Can you pass my e-mail address on to him please.

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  40. My father SD Warrick worked at Lockwoods from leaving school, he worked his way up to being a director. Mr Lockwood used to live in the bungalow that was at the front of the factory when it first opened. I remember visiting his home as a child at Holywell Hall.

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  42. Can anyone help me with the address of Lockwood’s cannery in Forfar, I worked at the cannery in 1980.

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  44. Has anyone got pictures of Lockwood Atkinson lorry, supplied new in 1969 , can anyone help

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  45. Hi.I worked at Lockwoods from around March 1971-March 1972.I worked for a company called Atlas Sprinkler Co installing the sprinkler system in the warehouse and despatch dept.I remember one of the checkers for despatch called Arthur who had deformed arms and hands.Also just behind the factory near despatch was a small wooden shed where a man named Frank used to repair pallets.I was in digs in Holbeach with somebody I believe was some kind of supervisor in the factory Jack Dent.

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  46. Hi Geoff
    Can you pass my e-mail address on to John McCutcheon please. Have been trying to track him down for a couple of years without any luck.

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  47. I’m researching my grandfather who worked here in the mid to late 60’s. Is there anywhere that I might be able to view his employment records? Thanks, mike

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    1. Hi I can’t help with employment record but some of the sites contributors might be able to help.
      Regards
      Geoff

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    2. Hello Mike,
      My name is GARY and I worked at LOCKWOODS round about 1967/8/9 along with about four others as a kind of labourer in what was called the yard, outdoors nearly year round only names I can remember are JACK (The foreman) and a BILL SPARKES/ SPARKS ( also his son RODNEY who worked at GARNERS GRAIN MERCHANTS) they both lived at SUTTON BRIDGE.
      I later worked with RODNEY for a couple of years the mill.
      That’s about it, hope it’s been some help to you.
      Cheers , Gary.

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  48. I worked as Assistant Buyer for International stores (in the canned goods section) from 1972-1975 and Lockwood were one of our main suppliers. I remember several visits to the factory in Long Sutton and meeting the Chemist and his assistant (who was involved in amateur dramatics). We dealt mainly with Eric Dyer who was absolutely lovely.

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    1. Thanks for memories. Hopefully you might link up with old work colleagues. Regards Geoff

      Reply

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