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Latest News: -
Sad news to report that another ex colleague has passed away, the lovely Frances Jaquest at the good age of 94 on 21st March 2024. We send our condolences to Frances family
Sad news that Barry Michael Forrest has passed away at the age of 90 after a short illness. Funeral was held on 10th May 2024 at 10am attendies George Woods, Paul Oudot & Mike Prior.
Sad news if you remember Mike Stenson, had a text from George Woods who had a card from Mike's wife Carol that Mike passed away in January 2023. Late in sending condolences to Carol & Family.
Its with sadness that my colleague & friend Les George has died at the age of 76 suddenly at home on the 5th December 2023. He was a great help in setting up this website and with be greatly missed, we send all our love to Hazel & Stuart thinking of you both today. All our love Mike, Lesley & Family.
We had an email on the 4th December 2023, from an ex colleague Alastair Tait if any one remembers Alastair can you let us know.
His story is that he came down to London from Dundee in 1966 aged 21 with his wife. He was a Capstan setter-operator and got a job in a little machine shop and we rented a room in Finsbury Park in a rather grotty house.
One day I had a toothache and a guy I worked with told me to go down Caledonian Road to a dental hospital, which I did and they pulled the tooth out. Walking back up the Road I saw a Vacancies board for Labour and walked in.
Can't remember the foreman's name ( He was thin, receding dark hair and Glasses) Mike Prior thinks this could be Alf Binding. Talked a bit and he offered me a job. However, he said, we are moving out of London to Wellingborough Northamptonshire in six months, so would that suit you? You'll get a new council house and a moving payment. I couldn't believe my luck! and that's what happened.
I worked in the Capstan Shop. Vic Skeel was the manager. I was friends with the late Jock Weir, Sam Scott, Gary Bokin, Harry Hooper and others who all moved to Wellingborough. Our Chargehand was Alan ? ( Does anyone know his name ). We were very happy with our new house and living in Wellingborough. After awhile I left Labour and worked at Cox & Wright in Rushden. After another two years I got a job as an instructor with the Government Training Centre in Edinburgh and we moved away. My daughter eventually moved to near Bedford and a couple of years age, we visited our old neighborhood Swinburne Road Wellingborough.
We thank Alastair for his story and hope that he will keep in touch.
We had a message from Paul Oudot that ex colleague Vic Skeel had passed away this November 2023 age 92.
We send our condolences to Vic's wife & family.
We received an email from Dave Byrne who is Eddie Byrne son, he said that we had spelt the surname wrongly it does not end with as 'S' so we have altered the name. He said that he worked at LaBour 48 yrs ago now in Despatch with Terry Wigger. It was nice to here from another ex colleague from the old company.
Just found out from Les George after visiting Doddington Road Cemetery that ex. colleague Ray Lane had passed away on 15th February 2022, we send our late condolences to his family.
Sad News to say that Tom Baughen has passe away at the age of 92, just 16 days befoe his 93rd birthday. He had been ill for awhile and passed away peaceful with his family around. Funeral was held on the 25th May 2023, attending with myself was, Les George, George Woods, Paul Oudot, Alan Fitch, Val York, Pat Hibbert & Carol Paige. So nice to see ex colleagues but on a sad day. We would like to thank Joan Tom's wife for allowing us to attend.
Just heard of the sad passing of Margaret Knight a week after her husband John died, Margaret died after suffering a stroke on 29th March 2023. Both John & Margaret with have a joint funeral on the 20th April at 3pm at Nene Valley Crem. We send all our love to Mike & Simon Knight & their families at this sad time.
Its with sad news that we have heard that John Edward Knight the husband of Margaret Knight who worked in Alcon Pumps within LaBour Pumps has died peacefully at home with his family at his side. We send our condolences to Margaret, Mike & Family at this sad time.
Just been advised that John 'Nobby' Clark has died at the age of 94. He had a fall at his son's home cut his leg bit of blood but nothing to serious, but they called an ambulance to be safe, got to hospital and he was fine. A few hours later they had a phone call John had raken a turn and he died in the hospital. His funeral is on the 11th of November at 2pm at Wellingborough Crem, if anyone would like to go and pay their respects.
Just been advised that Doreen Stevens has passed away on the 13th of August 2022 age 89 after a short illness. Doreen worked for the drawing office and was a lovely lady always smiling, when she retired, we lost a very good worker. We send her daughters Linda & Jeanette our condolences on the loss of their mum.
Just seen in the Evening Telegraph that the wife of George Woods, Mavis, has died on 16th April 2022 at the age of 84. We send George & his family our condolences on the loss of his lovely wife. Funeral attended by Mike Prior, Paul Oudot, Les and Hazel George. All our love Mike & Lesley, Les & Hazel George.xx
Firstly, we would like to thank Tony Froggatt for giving a link to our website on facebook.
Also have had an email from Jane Tomkins nee Leadbitter, saying her husband Frank Tomkins worked at LaBour from 1974 on the CNC Boring machine and Friction welder. He left in 1987 to go and work for Cosworth Eng Northampton, until his long overdue retirement in 2018, he sends s his regards to everyone who remembers him. Coincidentally Jane also worked at LaBour as a Receptionist 1978/1979 she said that this was a stop gap job & was boring, but remembers how many lovely people worked there, she met Frank in the early 90's and have been married ever since but were surprised to find out that they both worked at LaBour at the same time. She did mention that if we ever have another reunion they would like to come.
We had a message from Kevin Boyden saying his dad Arthur Boyden worked at LaBour around 1977, he lives in higham and is now 81, does anyone remember Arthur.
Donna Mallard message to say shes worked with Merle Harrison, I think it was on the Alcon Pump side, Nice to hear from Donna.
Message from Bob Sargent who said he worked at Harper & Tunstall next door to LaBour
Message from Graham Middleton who said he did some welding pump guards for Labour.
Message from Dean Stokes saying he played football for Labour.
Message from Kevin Abel saying he did his apprenticeship at Labour.
Message from Jacky Lovejoy nee Skeel that her dad Vic Skeel worked for LaBour from the 60's/70's and still talks very fondly of some of the people he worked with, he is now 92 this year. Jacky has kindly allowed us to put a latest picture of her dad with his wife on the website. When I Mike Prior started at Labour in London, Vic Skeel was the manager & John Mcloughlin was running the spares dept that I work in.
Message from Steve Osborne was an apprentice in the early 70's his brother Ray Osborne also worked at Labour, he remembers Ron Hawkins, Jerry Hill, & Don Roberts who was also Charlie Doubles son in law. If anyone has information on these colleagues would be nice to hear from them.
Shirley Matthews nee Langley, her dad was Bob Langley who I think worked in the despatch dept.
Tony Gibbons has also message on facebook, aying he did his apprenticeship from 1975 to 1979, ending up working in the drawing office. He worked at LaBour's fpr 11 yrs which set him up well for future positions with other companies, met some right characters there, but enjoyed working at LaBour Pumps as was a good company to work for. He helped clear out and saved a load of old photo's etc from being skipped and has allowed us to put som of these on the website.
Sad news to report on the 30th of November 2020, Tony Betteridge passed away, he ran the Alcon side at LaBour Pumps. On the 6th of December 2020 sad to report that Mervyn Waters passed away after a fall and broke his hip, there were complications during the op but after it he seemed to be improving, then suddenly went downhill. Two great members for a brilliant company. Condolences to both families from Mike & Les.
7.4.2020 Hi All, anyone remembers we use to deal o deal with a company in South Africa Pumptec. We have had a Mr Alan Bullock contact us to ask if we remember this company who we had dealings with from the late 60's. He & his brother Richard run the company after the death of their father David Bullock who passed away 2019 age 91. It was very nice to hear that Pumptec was still going.
Marjorie Hall and her husband Gordon moved at the end of June 2019. They now live on the south coast between Havant and Emsworth to be near their married daughter who lives there. We wish them a very happy continued retirement.
Congratulations to Dai and Rita Evans for your 55th Wedding Anniversary on 1st February 2019! We all wish you Every Happiness on your Big Day and hope there are many more anniversaries to come.
On the 17th of January 2019 Les had a call from Girish (usually known as Gary) Patel. He had a look on the off chance on the net for LaBour Pumps and was so pleased to find our website. He has lived in Milton Keynes for 40 years, but in the 1970's he was an apprentice and worked for Ken Gascoyne in the Inspection Dept. He is very interested in coming to a reunion in June, which Mike has already mentioned on the reunion page. If anyone wants to get in touch with him, please let Les know.
December 2018. We have just recently been told of the passing of Sandra McSorley, who many will remember was one of the ladies' football team and is in some of the photos. Carole Paige met Paul Oudot a little while ago and told him. Les and Hazel meet up with Paul every two weeks or so and it was at our last meet-up that he told us. As yet we have no more details of what happened or when, if we get more information, we'll add it here.
It is with sad news that we have heard that Reg Tomkins daughter Pauline Shoesmith nee Tomkins has passed away on Friday 9th November 2018. This lady will be missed by all her family and her many friends. We send our condolences to Alan & Chris Tomkins & Family, Gary,Samuel & Tiffany Shoesmith at this sad time.
We have been notified that another of our colleague’s wife has died, Don Roberts lovely wife Pauline Roberts (Nee Double) died in March 2018, we send our condolences to Don & his Family at this sad time.
We have been notified that another of our LaBour Colleagues John Roome has died at the age of 83 on the 4th of May 2018. John worked in our despatch dept and think he took over as driver from Reg Tomkins when he retired. We send our condolences to his family at this sad time.
George Gatens has recently got in touch with us out of the blue after finding the website. He and wife Jo now live at Sutton-on-Sea in Lincolnshire. He has good memories of his times at LaBour and would be happy to hear from any of his old mates. His email address is gatensjog@aol.com
We would like to thank Trevor Morris for contacting us on the 9th of November 2017 to let us know he found the website and that he now lives in Orkney, Scotland. He has been there 7 years now. He now suffers from COPD so living in Orkney with the clean air is helping him with his breathing. He used to work in the Test Bay 1978/1979, so he would love to hear from other colleagues who worked at Labour during those times. His email address is trevorhmorris@hotmail.co.uk.
We were sorry to see in the Northants Telegraph of 5th October 2017 the death of Cathie Geekie on 27th September aged 87, wife of Stuart Geekie of the Drawing Office. Our deepest sympathies to Stuart, Les sent him a card. The funeral is at 2pm at the Edgar Newman Chapel, Kettering Crematorium on Thursday 12th October. Family flowers only please, any donations to Cransley Hospice c/o Jack Warwick Independent Family Funeral Service, 2a Wallis Road, Kettering NN15 6NX.
28th September just received two photos of the late Alan Pearce, we would like to thank Jean for sending the photos and we send our love to all the family.
15th August 2017 just had today Mrs. Jean Pearce phone me as she received a letter about the cancelled reunion. She rang to let me know that her husband Alan Pearce who I worked with in the spares dept in London/Wellingborough has died on 15th March 2017 age 87. Wish I had known as would have liked to have gone to the funeral to pay my respects.
2016's Reunion was at the Golden Lion, Wellingborough, on 24th September. There were 18 Labour people there, including first time attender Dai Evans and his wife Rita who came all the way from Wales particularly for this reunion. We also welcomed first time attenders Steve Pickering and Sue Gascoyne.
The number of attenders has been dropping year by year, with the result that it's now doubtful if there will be any future reunions. If anyone has any thoughts on this, or comments and suggestions please contact Les or Mike. This year's was arranged by Les, Hazel and Mike with thanks again to Shaun for kindly providing nametags. We have managed to keep the charge down to £10 a head every year.
Mike had an email on 9th September from David Fisher who worked at LaBour from 1979 to 1982. He met Ian White and Steve Pickering at Wellingborough Technical College as it was called then, and later worked with Ian. He spent several months helping Mervyn Waters to set up the LaBour plant in Cork, Ireland. He's lived in the USA for 33 years at Simi, California just outside Los Angeles, is married and has two daughters.
We had an email yesterday 30.7.16 for an ex. colleague John Harris he uses to work in the terrapin building alongside Alan Fitch and Derek Larkin. He now lives in Honiton East Devon but works 3 weeks out of 4 in Peterborough. He found our website and noticed that we have another reunion coming up and if his working period coincides with the reunion, he will try an attend. Would be nice to meet him again as it’s been 40 odd years since he worked at LaBour.
We have been sent three photos of ex. colleague Robert ((Bob) Langley by his daughter Shirley; we would like to thank her letting us put them on the website. 27.7.2016
Les had received an email from Maureen Enwright's daughter Marina on Friday 8th July 2016 to say that Maureen died just after midnight in Kettering Hospital after a short illness. She was one of LaBour's "characters" and will be much missed by all who knew her.
We send our condolencies from all her LaBour friends to Marina and the family.
We would like to send our deepest sympathies to Ray Bunyan and family on the loss of Ray's wife Barbara Joan. They had just started their holidays in Norfolk when she was taken ill and died on the 15th of May 2016. The funeral was held at the Albert Munn Chapel, Kettering at 1pm on Monday 6th June 2016. The LaBour folk who attended were George and Mavis Woods, Jim and Jackie Dowding and Les George. Ray was a very capable and well-liked Service Engineer at Labour Pumps and later with Sterling Fluid Systems.
Les had a very welcome phone call at the end of May 2016 from Dai Evans in Neath. In a spare few minute, he googled LaBour Pumps and found our website! He was so pleased to see all our news and the photos and intends to come to this year's Reunion.
We would like to send our condolences to Mrs. Gwen Brooks and family with the loss of her husband Trevor Brooks, the funeral was held on Thursday 4th February 2016 and was attended by our Terry Harris. Trevor had been suffering from kidney failure for some time almost ten years on weekly dialysis but continued to enjoy life with his wife and family without complaining of his problems. Trevor worked as a Production Control Manager during the 70's.
2015's reunion was held on the 7th of November, with quite a few of our regular colleagues and their wives attending. We had some new ex-employees come: Dave Ford and his wife Sue, Niall Moreton and his wife Dawn and also Tony Betteridge who was in charge of Alcon. We would also like to thank Shaun Middleton who arranged the reunion. Good one once more.
Would you please give your thoughts to Kenny Dormer and family on the loss of his wife Dorothy after a long illness, the funeral was held on Wednesday 11th November 2015 at Kettering Crem.
ALAN WEBB's email address: alan_webb2006@hotmail.com. Mobile 07887497651.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MIKE PRIOR AND DEREK LARKIN!!
Mike and Lesley celebrate their 40th (Ruby) Wedding Anniversary on 12th July 2015, and Derek and Helen Larkin celebrate their 50th (Golden) Wedding Anniversary on 21st August 2015. Best Wishes to you from all your friends from the old place.
Congratulations to Jan Howse who has become a grandmother. Best Wishes.
JAN HOWSE (formerly Jordan) and her husband permanently emigrated to Poitiers, France in June 2015 to renovate an old farmhouse.
LES GEORGE'S INTERESTS. Genealogy research, logic problems, code breakers, gardening, internet.
MIKE PRIOR'S INTERESTS: - gardening, internet, movies, genealogy research and our grandchildren.
TONY PARISH's email address: tonyparish56@gmail.com
Has anyone got a copy of the LaBour News Number 5 of Spring or Summer 1980? If so could Les please borrow it to scan and copy as he has numbers 1 to 4 and 6. Also if there are any more after issue 6 a borrow would be much appreciated, thanks.
