BIP Tools 1962

After three years working at the first factory Nichols and Lewis, they went into administration, which looking back seems to be a common theme in engineering in the UK.

Fortunately, the company next door offered all the apprentices employment, and it was one of the largest plastic toolmaking firms in the country.

While there I was moved to different parts of the factory it was a way learn a different variety of skills. Now it was my turn to stay in the Inspection department; not very exciting I thought. I was going to spend the next six months sitting down measuring blocks of steel…Still.

On my first morning, a tall man as thin as a broom stale introduced himself to me, he had little hair but what he did have was brushed backwards and held in place with Brylcreem, ‘I’me Albert Brown,’ he said. For the first few months, I struggled to make any sense of what he said. It wasn’t just the lisp but more like the feeling of starting a jigsaw without the picture to give you an idea of what the finished puzzle looked like.

‘I used to be a boxer,’ he told me one day. ‘A boxer.’ I replied in surprise. ‘I was pretty good.’ he said. ‘Who did you fight?’ I asked.

‘Everyone,’ he replied, ‘I was a fairground boxer, a bare-fist fighter, people would come out of the crowd and they would get money if they beat me. not many did. Then I saw his eyes glisten. ‘But one day this guy stepped out of the crowd, he was big but that never bothered me because big people are sometimes slow or clumsy.  He climbed into the ring and as soon as the bell went I knew he was too good for me. I could usually box and slip away from a person if I needed too. But not him he chased me and was relentless, he really hurt me.’ but I didn’t go down,’ there were tears in.his eyes.

I felt so sorry for him and now knew why he struggled with his speech, I really liked him. He used to tease me and say, ‘Hit me on the arm as hard as you like’,  ‘I  don’t want to I,’ replied, ‘I might hurt you. ‘Don’t be silly he replied,’ but if it makes you feel any better let me hit your arm first, from just two inches away. Before I could reply he hit me and my arm went numb. He started laughing. From then on it was a ritual between us. One I always enjoyed.

It was normal for me to have a bruised arm but it never bothered me, it was part of factory life. ‘ I have a son.’ he said one day. He had never mentioned a son before. ‘Is he a boxer,’ I asked? Albert laughed. ‘Got more sense than me,’ he answered. He’s a drummer in a rock and roll band. They are are a really good group.’ They are called the fortunes.

I said, ‘Wow,’ or something equally as cool because he was right they were a really good group and would eventually have songs high into the record charts.’

Albert Brown was a really nice man.