Page 8 - SPR

Our Gallery

Picture from Alan Southworth. Taken in Love Lane outside Mabels House. It is Mr O'Neils retirement in June 1968 we think.------On the left of the picture and at the rear is Marilyn -----?, then Sylvia Whitnell, Maureen Weedon, George Vinten, Jenny Whitehead, then a blond????, then Angela -------? and Phyllis Day. In the front are Joan Martin, Mr O'Neill and Kit Goodhew. In the background on the left is Arthur Goodhew looking on. He is standing by the old cottages, check the story out about their haunting, on page 3 behind the picture of the Coopers Arms.

The Gentlemen of the Bindery at Mr O'Neills retirement June 1968. In this picture sent in by Alan Southworth, from he left of the scene is, Derek Rowlands, Fred Fairman, Bert Smith, John Zurowaski at the back, Ted Harknett in the front, Peter Bucknall at the back with Steve Howard in front of him and Stan Harris. Then Arthur Goodhew in the pullover, with Mr O'Neil sitting. Then Alf Marsh at the back with George Mortley in front, Sid Foreman with Alan Southworth behind him. Dave Southworth is next, then Terry Hedges, Bob Marsh and Brian Holmes.

A photograph sent into the site from Lee Fairbrother that shows the retirement of 'Old Man Letchford'. We think 1961 or 62, in the composing department at Love Lane. Notice all the smart shirts and ties of the journeymen. On the extreme left of the scene is Harry Gates, then Eddy Hurley, Phil Gunningham, Les Robotham, a very young Geof Curtis just out of the army, then George Vinten, Jim Frazer, or is it Allen Quy?, Roy Boorman, Fred Marsh, Reg Letchford, Mr Letchford Snr., Arthur Hibben, Bert Clinch, Ernie Chapman M.D., George Johnson, Jack Foord, Len Fairbrother, Ron Holt, George Martyn and Maurice Kent.

A picture e-mailed to the site by Brian Ford.-------- It shows- 'The Echoes'. The lead singer in the red jacket is Dave Gower who worked in the machine room at Love Lane and the guitarist in the centre of the three is Brian himself who worked in the keyboard. They later had a name change and became Dave Champion and the Strangers. As host of the site I feel I can take the liberty of including the comment that I saw them perform at the Corn Exchange in Rochester and it is absolutely true, that I never forgot their amazing version of 'Speedy Gonzales'. It was Brilliant. They were a very good group and Dave had one of the best singing voices I have ever heard. GTC

Posted into the web-site by Dudley Rhodes, this is a duplicate of one on page 3. However this is of much better quality. The 'tapes' standing up at the left rear of the picture, are part of the perfector printing machine paper delivery system. Behind them are shelves full of tins and tins of printing ink in all colours. Good to see Vic Lee credited with the photo,--- he was a very nice man.

Another good picture posted into the web-site by Dudley Rhodes. Part of the history of Love Lane machine room it shows the Dawson being stripped down for scrap. As the caption says, the first minder on the machine was Charlie Costin and the last one Dudley Rhodes, (on the left of pic.) Behind Charlie is the Quad Demy and at the left of Dudley are the strange 'sticks' on the 'old' perfector that turned the printed sheets over before they were piled. The area of the Dawson was to become the site of 2 Heidelberg Cylinders. Dudley later retrained to Litho and became Deputy Machine Room Manager.

Another pic from Dudley Rhodes. It shows a Staples Dance at the Corn Exchange, Rochester. Original photo by the Kent Messenger. An e-mail from Roger Young tells me it was 1961. Right behind the lady centre front in the 'sparkly' dress, is Rose Foy with next to her, Roger himself. The other side of Rose is Linda Hampton, then Tony Hartridge, then Joan Warren with husband Ken behind, next Jim Foy, then Doreen and Keith Jarrett.

Added into the web-site by Ken Morrist. Some of the original union cards etc. from the 1960s. Kens surname and number written on the club card at the bottom, is in Keith Jarrett's handwriting.

Photo from Ken Morrist--- it shows Ken with Janice Pett on the right of pic. (they later married), and Frank Ryde with Christine ??????-(always known by her nick-name of Squid, shortend from Squidely Diddely) on the left.

Another pic from a dance at the paddock in Chatham, from Ken Morrist.------------- Marion ???? on the left of pic, with Reg Letchford behind her, then Audrey Bryant???, Jan and Ken, then Sylv and Geof, (WITH A DIRTY DISGUSTING FAG ON). On the right, is that Clive Martin? ---I think the dance being done was 'The March of the Mods".

An original letter signed by T.S. Martin, from 1969. Courtesy of Ken Morrist

Also from 1969 an original memo. Courtesy of Ken Morrist.

Ken Morrist and Tony Styles examine a printed sheet from the Heielberg Cylinder.---------- Photo from Ken Morrist. It would have been taken in the machine room at Love Lane in the 1970s. I think taken on the night-shift, when one minder would operate two cylinders with the help of an assistant and Tony would have been the compositor 'cover'.

We are grateful for receiving a few very old pictures from Brian Bull taken by him on a Saturday morning in the Comp Room at Love Lane in the late 1950s. This one shows Tom Brewerton locking up a little job on the small stone next to Jim Freemans proofing press.------By the size of the 'chase' it could be for one of the Verticle Mehlie's or a Heidelberg Platen.

Another classic from Brian Bull. A young looking Len Fairbrother at work, possibly on 'The National Message'.

Another from Brian--- Jack Ellen with Scraggs (?) the dog.

Alex (Steely Blue) Ongley entertaining Harry Gates and Tom Brewerton.---- From Brian Bull

Alex Ongley performing on the stone with little Harry Gates in the near distance. -From Brian Bull.

John Rodda looking very pensive (and its that Tom Brewerton again).------- From Brian Bull.

Taken from a set of plans from 1930s -- 1940s this shows Rochester and written in at the time are the words 'Shorts seaplane works' (Short Bros flying boat factory)---- and right at the top centre by 'Printing Works' is written 'Staples' --------------------Courtesy Jay Curtis.

Alex (Steely Blue) Ongley entertaining Harry Gates and Tom Brewerton.---- From Brian Bull From pictures sent in to the site by Kim Barham (nee Spain) Rons Daughter, we show Ron Spains retirement from Love lane. It would be about 1984. On the left of the scene is Gary Freestone, Ron smiling at his cake and Andy Brackley. From pictures sent in to the site by Kim Barham (nee Spain) Rons Daughter, we show Ron Spains retirement from Love lane. It would be about 1984. On the left of the scene is Gary Freestone, Ron smiling at his cake and Andy Brackley.

Again from Kim, a lovely picture of Ron Spain handing Phil Gunningham a glass of sherry to celebrate his retirement.

Ron on the left of scene, then Sylvia Whitnell, Andy Brackley, Roy (Tubby) Boorman and Frankie Cooper---. Photo from Kim Barham.

CHEERS! Left of scene is Maurice Kent, then Ron Spain who is retiring, then Phil Gunningham, Les Hoskyns, Len Fairbrother and Ron Holt. --- Photo from Kim Barham.