Exclusive Feature Serial on www.thisisull.com Hull - A Personal History Part Three By Bryan Holgate

Part One.    Part Two.

The old shop at Broady's was converted into offices in about 1967; a new shop was built at ground level with the office staff looking over the "workers". It was very modern and we all felt a little out of place. The huge old solvent tank filled with petrol used to clean parts was replaced with one using environmentally friendly solution; sure it was that's why our hands went numb! A new oven was built to accommodate at least 1000 hp stators.

The old one was scrapped; that was good as many a young kid, including myself was initiated in that thing, half cooked and then gassed almost to death. Mind you I did put my old Ford Popular in the old oven to warm it up so as I could paint it with a brush, it came out very well. All this and the shop was on the third floor - that's how big a lift we had. Also that ½ Crown that was screwed down to the floor and hooked up to the 220 volt DC Geny never made it into the new shop, just as well.

I was told the managing director tried to pick up the coin one day he was not impressed. Later in life I worked out in Saudi for a while and the first few diving boats I worked on were converted trawlers from Hull; the switchboards were made in our old shop. I married a girl from Hull, over 30 years ago. We met at the Court school of Dancing and now live on the west coast of Canada; not far from Vancouver. continued below

Exclusive Feature Serial on www.thisisUll.com Hull - A Personal History Part Three continued By Bryan Holgate

One of our biggest customers is The Canadian Fishing Company Ltd. They have a number of boats and their own cannery for salmon. It is a long way from the fish houses of English Street, with the smoke, the girls in their rubber aprons and the distinctive smell of a Number 73 bus.

Looking back I was extremely privileged to be a part of the fishing industry in Hull. To the men who trained me, thank you. I owe you a great deal, never a day goes by I do not use the skills you taught me. Before coming to Canada I passed on the knowledge I had gained as of then, to at least three individuals who are still working in Beverley as motor winders and now have their own skills to teach. One of those guys was only 16 when we travelled across the Humber one very windy night in 1973 to work on the top of a tower, fixing a crane motor on the yet to be finished Humber Bridge.

Here in Canada I have taught many apprentices. Unfortunately we do not have an abundance of tradesmen of the calibre I worked with in Hull. Broady's are still very apparent and successful in the marine valve and machining industry. Sadly though, no longer in the electrical business; the Cod War sure took its toll. On a recent trip to Hull I visited a winding shop once considered a competitor of Broady's.

I was waiting for the boss to quit work so we could go for a beer. I was walking around checking out the motors being worked on, some of the guys were a little suspicious, and they may have figured I was a "spy from the other side of town". Then the boss came down the stairs and said, "Hey guys; Bryan's ok, he's one of Vic's lads". I liked that.

I am still winding motors for the marine industry and trouble shooting switchgear. Thank you, Hull. Bryan Holgate (Maple Ridge Rewinds Ltd) Maple Ridge British Columbia Canada.

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