Cam Gears

45 Wilbury Way Hitchin

I hope these photos bring back some happy memories to anyone who chances upon them.

I believe that this factory was meant to be four times this big, as George Kent's bought a great swath of land in 1954, before the factory was built, I think this was one of the main reasons why it was shutdown, as the land was freehold with planning permission to built commercial units to the end of Wilbury Way, and was sold for several million pounds, I bet that looked good on the TRW balance sheets.

The manufacturing facility was mostly transferred to Pamplona in the North West of Spain, also known as the Basque region (Navarra).

Names of people I remembered that worked there, are as follows, in no preference or particular chronological order. Names in RED indicate deceased people.

Bert Dinsey, Frank Radics, Len Pratt, Jane Clarke (nee Blows), Rosemary Bartlett, Henry Snaith, Pauline Pratt, Jack Muncey, Bert Dove, Frank Bird, Ron Scouse, Ron Wilson, John (Curly) Irwin, Jack Leather, Gordon Leather, Rollin Walker, Stephen Welling, David (Sugar) Spicer, David (Willy) Izzard, Jim Shotton, Vernon Rolands, Fred Chatterley, David Broom, Des Galley, Jim Jones, ? Harrison, Ernie Ward. Dick Long, Burnie Butt, John and Linda Lavery, Ken Harris, Doug Wilkinson, Peter Taplin, Derek Waywell, Vic Walker, Roger A. Pinnington, Douglas Leese, Norman Lasham, Gary Lasham, Ginger Taylor, Pat Clifford, Michael Quinlan, Patrick Reynolds, Dave (Barney) Knott, Gary (Maintenance Fitter)?, Bill (Ludo) Lewis, Brian Fairey, Stephen Bird, Barbara Bird, Len Lusted, Joe Griffiths, Jim Locke, Keith Phillips, Michael Reader, John Foster, Hazel O'Hanlon, Melvyn Wilkie, Roger Green, Ted Aldridge, Peter Looney, ? Phillips, Alan Tunbridge, John Miles, Fred Coombs, Sandra (wages clerk)?,Gordon Mabert, Alan Tyson (CPO), Peter Redford, David Nash, John Newman, Joan Routledge, Pat Campbell, Ted Cross, Frank Timoney, Frank Draper, Albert Foster, Cyril West, Terry Torry, Wally Mansell (the gardener), Gary Tapp, Ernie Shaw, Colin Bumphrey, Harry Prince, Kabeer (Electrician), Winifred Turner, Fred the Labourer, Dick Kilby, Arthur Woodhead, Audrey, John Morris, Alex Turner, Ruth Hayman, Stephanie (Switchboard), Angela, Sue P?, John Pinder, Wyndham Lewis, Jack (oiler) and Jill (assembly)? Tony Santos, Dave Garley, Jack Garley, Tom Spicer, Dave Jones (Toolroom), Stan Mansell, John Mansell, Doris (Director's canteen), Mrs Mack, Basil (Brush) Chauffeur, Christine and Harry Cowley, Rex Sharp, Brian Rex, Larry Crocker, Miriam ?, George Stafford, Bill West, Angus, Jim Procter, Mike Abbott, Dave Knight, Dave Cousins, Jeff Kiddle, Bill Worboys, John Nicholls Julie Harvey, Eddie Hughes, Roy Cravat, Ron Ashby, Paul Bexfield, Kiran Haswar, Steve Cuff, John Lawman, Tony Bond, Dick Wright, Bill Houchin, Owen McFarlane, David Harrowell, Viv Parry, Keith Simmons, Sergeant Torrey, John Whitelock, Frank Bryder, Robin Powell, Peter Albone, Nana, Beth, Peter Freeman,Terry Brooker, Colin Wright, Bill Cordless, George Slater, John Randall, Gerry Wright, Steve Summers, Len Barker, Mr Broom (canteen), Les Marsh, Steve Allen, George Munns, Jim Ingrams, Self appointed Sergeant, Sid Phillips, Dave Jenkins, Bill Feasey, Barry Dukes, Fred Adams, Bill Payne, Bob Lang, Fred Pearson,Steve O'dell,Barry Newbury, Horace Smith, Dick Slow, Tony Bradley, Malcolm and Geoff Slingsby, Jim Scott (aka Scotty), Fred Chatterly, Dave Butcher, etc, etc.

I welcome any info, or corrections you might suggest.

Do you have any photos of the factory? or people from it, if so you know who to contact.

Please help complete the list. derekrevell@aol.com

Many thanks to Mike Abbott for the B&W photo.

Many thanks to Gary Lasham for sending me photos of the In House magazine "Top Gear" issue 5 from April 1979.

I've just come across some more photos, but I need to scan them in.