My first day at Trewins

I began employment as a machinist at Trewin Brothers in the soft furnishing workroom on the 14th August 1972.

We passed through big gates
I reported to the registry office which was on the second floor of the shop.  From there, a young lady escorted me across to the Kinghams building to start my first day.
We passed through big gates into a large car park used by managers and some partners.  (Roger Holland was the attendant and Tony Atkins of the service team used to help out.)
As we entered the building there were steps up to a loading bay where merchandise was received from the Greatham Road warehouse.  Behind the bay was a reception area for sorting out and ticketing the goods which then went on the link van to the shop.  In the basement was the dining room where partners had their morning, lunch and afternoon breaks.

I would eventually work there for 14 years
Up a flight of stairs were the Staff Training and Sales and Stock Accounting offices.  The amenities for the building were also on this level.  We climbed further to the second floor and entered through  double doors into the Soft Furnishing workrooms.  How was I to know, on that first day, that I would eventually work there for 14 years.

The machinery was at the rear of the room
To the left was a small office where Mr Stutely (the manager) and the clerk worked.
The workroom was set out with six very large tables.  Two partners were able to work on a pair of curtains together at each table.  The curtains were sometimes very heavy and needed two people to move them around.  All the machinery was at the rear of the room and it was here the fabrics were stitched and linings made up.
Through another set of doors was a big cutting table where our cutter, Grace Parker, would cut fabrics for curtains, cushion covers and bedspreads.  She was a lovely lady and very experienced. The rest of the room was used to hang the finished curtains, ready for fitters to take to customers.  There was also another small office.

The memory man
I have fond memories of my time spent at Trewins and with the people in the Soft Furnishing workroom.  I enjoyed every minute.  Friday mornings were special when Mr van der Pant would visit the workrooms for a little chat with all the staff.  He was hilarious and knew everyone by name.  I call him the memory man.

The Friday club
I still meet many of my friends at the retired partners coffee mornings which take place on the last Friday of each month and are an excellent way of keeping in touch.