Partners
FINDING COMMUNITY IN OUR INDUSTRIAL PAST
Stefan Ramsden reflects on what the WORK Records archive discoveries and interviews tell us about historic working lives...
ROYAL VISITS
Each of the WORK Records factories had visits from members of the Royal Family. Stefan reflects on how such visits played an important role in the relationship between monarchy and people.
GOGGLES MUST BE WORN
Corby Heritage volunteer Adam Cattell writes about his WORK Records experience and discoveries here.
WEIGHT FOR HEIGHT
Stewarts & Lloyds employees established many sports teams some still exist and continue to be an important part of life in Corby today. Adam writes about them here.
JOHN, IRIS, AND TONY
Sandra Maycock, John Smedley volunteer, interviewed fellow volunteers Iris Smedley and Tony Wetton, both of whom worked at Smedley's for many years before returning as volunteers after their retirementalso talks about late colourist, John Mumby, who generously shared his knowledge, understanding and skills with the archive team at Smedley's.
In July 1939, to celebrate the company’s centenary, Robinson and Sons treated all 3,700 of its workers to a day out in London, commanding the private hire of eight trains and a fleet of 80 buses!
After a full breakfast on the train, Robinsons’ staff were treated to a London city tour, with lunch and tea at Lyons’ Corner House – taken over for the day. Following an afternoon of more sightseeing, the day ended with an all-star variety performance at the Royal Albert Hall, the first time the hall had been taken over by a private company for its staff.
ROBO's ANGELS TAKE LONDON
In July 1939, to celebrate the company’s centenary, Robinson and Sons treated all 3,700 of its workers to a day out in London, commanding the private hire of eight trains and a fleet of 80 buses. Read archivist Karen Millhouse’s blog about this extraordinary event for Derbyshire Record office here.
A FAMILY LINK
WORK Records volunteer, Penny Soames, writes about her research inspired by her family connection to Robinson and Sons through her grandmother, Vera Ida Hunt, who worked for the company in the early 1960s.
ON PROGRESSIVE LINES
Philip Moffat Robinson was at the heart of Robinson and Sons' philanthropic endeavours in the early 20th century. WORK Records volunteer Martyn Stonehouse tells us more here...
THE SHOW GOES ON!
In the 1920s, the future Mayor of Chesterfield, Florence Robinson, founded the Robinson’s Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society. WORK Records volunteer Eve Connor celebrates its success and resilience.
NEAR WALTON DAM
Penny's research for WORK Records prompted her to explore the former Robinson's sites in Chesterfield, and in turn, this has inspired her own textile art works. Read more and see some of Penny's artwork here.
AN INNOVATIVE SPIRIT
Terry Fox's research on the Crimea War had uncovered some Robinson family connections, but through volunteering for WORK Records he went on to find a very different and eggstra-ordinary story...
