Wickman Machine Tools

The Coventry Apprentice Association - canoe race from Hemel Hempsted all the way back up to Northampton - absolute hell but such a laugh. Like Mick lots of names I remember - but best times were in the training school. Jack Trigg - What a gent !

I've just come across this interesting forum. I can confirm John Beardow is still around and doing a superb job in running the Wickman Golf Society (yes it really is still going). WGS meets about 6 times a year at various courses. I first started playing with them in 1968 under the strict tutelage of Laurie Hudson. People I remember from that time are Harry Byles, Vic Taylor, Mike Poole, Eric Robinson and Maurice Parker. John has done a brilliant job keeping it going and we still play for all the old trophies.

Pleased to hear that John is still going strong Pity he is/was a Dirty Leeds supporter

Did anyone know Brian Tallett at Wickmans?

I started my apprenticeship on 3 September 1979. Colin Tipson was the Training Manager and Jack Trigg was in charge of the training school. He along with Roland Harbourne, Frank Wardell and Ralph Tipton taught us so well. I still have every piece I made there and will always be proud to have been a Wickman Apprentice. We had our First Year dinner at The Manor in Meriden and I can still see the complementary ciggies in the wine glasses placed along the centre of the tables. Happy days indeed! Pete Holmes

Hi everyone - started at Wickmans Sept 1969 as apprentice £5.5 shillings first wage. Worked at Banner Lane till 1978 then to Chicago 78-late 81 then back to Cov, now in Cheltenham Cheers Richard Scally

I started at Wickmans in September 1974. After a year in the training centre I worked in the grinding section in the light machine shop. I also worked in the cutter grinding department and then in the tool room on the Optical Profile Grinder with Jack Hands. I worked in the tool room when I finished my apprenticeship and remained there until I left in 1980. I haven't worked in engineering since then. I can remember names from the training school such as Colin Tipson, Stan Wood and Joe Williams, the training staff Jack Trigg, Frank Wardell, Ralph Tipton and Roland whose surname escapes me. There was an instructor who looked after the apprentices once they left the training centre but I can't remember his name. My dad John Ferguson worked on the 9' long centre lathe in the light machine shop. I remember there being a number of people who had relatives working there. When I worked in the grinding section I worked alongside Dave Richards who was my best man in 1980 when I married Vicky Shaw a typist who is the daughter of Bert Shaw. Bert used to work in the offices and had involvement with Wickmans club. I remember the Stardice hill walking competition and Hemel Hempstead to Northampton canoe race very well. There was one occasion when Colin Tipson had to come with us on the canoe race because we had misbehaved and received complaints from the organisers the previous year. The reason that I came on to this site was that I had been trying to recall the name of my first foreman in the Tool Room. I think his first name may have been Wilf but I'm not sure. Brian Latcham took over from him when he retired. Ian Ferguson

Sad to hear that John Beardow passed away on 30 October aged 79 RIP John

Hi Ian, the tool room foreman's surname was Yates. I remember Dave, some of the others in the toolroom at that time must have been Reg Stafford on the grinding, Alan Mills and Terry Johns on fitting, Freddie Miles, Ray Mills and Rod Stanger on the turning. I left in 84 after 14 years in the heavy shop.

Moggy Parker, I remember his VW Beetle well

Having just finished reading the Alfred Herberts posts regarding the downturn with up and coming NC and then CNC machines, I remember the time that Banner Lane had 7 or 8 new CNC lathes delivered. These were to replace Herbert 9B's in the light machine shop. The new lathes arrived without chucks, and naivety was shown with the statement "I thought we could use the chucks off the capstans"!!!

Like a lot of Coventry works, Wickman's had great sports facilities. Pavilion, 2 football pitches, cricket square. All looked after by Charlie Ward (Coventry Lord Mayor). There was 2 football teams that played in the Saturday works league. Also on the works site we hard surface tennis courts and the canteen floor was marked out for badminton. At the Fletchamstead Highway facility, there was a fully licenced club house with snooker, bagatelle and darts. Outside were lawn tennis courts. My first year apprenticeship subs for the club was 2d per week (what a bargain).

Another interesting fact that has just come to mind. There was a director at Banner Lane called John Kane, he was the very first apprentice whose parents did not have to pay for him to join the BSA. Good bloke.

Hi MR, just read your thread and the mention of Pete Whitehouse. I played football with Pete for many years. He went on to start Whitehouse Machine Tools in Kenilworth. Now retired and owns Stoneleigh Club in Stoneleigh Village.

Hi Mick I've known Pete Whitehouse since I was small. I know you recall my dad. If I remember correctly Pete was a salesman and walked in to Caludon Engineering to meet dad. This would probably be early 70's and they immediately got on and became great friends. We used to go on holiday with Pete and his family down to Cornwall for several years running. I took dad to see Pete not too long before dad sadly passed away when Pete first bought his house in Stoneleigh. I still see his brother Simon on occasions in Earlsdon. IIRC I think think Pete's son Tim took over the running of Whitehouse Machine Tools. That would be who his wife Janet was expecting then, Cliff When Pete started WMC in the early 80's he wanted dad to go in with him but dad didn't want to take the risk (though it turned in to a successful company). Edited by member, 3rd Dec 2020 11:36 am