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Government Announcement – Modernisation
I remember this particular edition which spelt out the future for BSC, stating that open hearth steelmaking would cease. This confirmed fears and cast a further shadow over Bilston meaning that unless electric arc furnaces were installed the works would close.
The White Paper Issue
This edition followed on the heels of the January announcement going into the full details within the government white paper on BSC.
April 1973
Roy Mortimore moved to Rotherham and Eric Cotterill arrived at Bilston. I remember this and rumours that Mr Cotterill had come to close the works even then…
Record Day in 1974
Terrific performance by Elisabeth’s crew.
New Ingot Configuration
Bilston introduced ‘short head’ ingot practice to increase the size of ingot which provided a higher yield per ingot from the same cast quantity.
Prizegiving 1975
Good to see more names of employees. Fame at last…listed under ONC in Business Studies along with Ian Hemmings and Paul Williams. See also photo below.
Prizegiving Invitation
Not really ‘Steel News’ but here is my invite associated with the preceding article.
Prizegiving 1975
See also article above. I receive my prize from Ross Giles, the Business Editor of the Express & Star, for passing my ONC (Ordinary National Certificate) in Business Studies taken an the Wulfrun College between 1972 and 1974. The suit was new and bought from John Collier (made to measure!) but I do not recall what the prize was !
Jim Latham
Here, First Hand (Leading) Melter Jim Latham (not Lathan) receives just reward for his double – end firing invention for the open hearth furnace. He discussed this with me several times during my forays into the melting shop – see ‘DIARY’.
Ted Timmins
Here is an amusing article about Ted Timmins for whom I worked as a trainee in the Blast Furnace Office. He did have a distinctive chuckle…from time to time..!
Awards for Bowlers
I worked with Tony Turnbull when I moved into Billet Sales in November 1977. Bryn Jones was Melting Shop Manager and Malcolm Bacon worked in Production Control.
March 1976 – A New GM
When Eric Cotterill moved on within BSC, George Blakely arrived from Shefield Rolling Mills which had been absorbed into the Corporation.
May 1976 – Birchley Works’ Last Month
Birchley works last few weeks. Birchley was located just off the large roundabout (Five Ways?) at the end of the Birmingham New Road.
Birchley Closes
A sad article on the end of production at Birchley.
Loco Idea
Life went on at Bilston and here the Locomotive Department wins a suggestion scheme award.
July 1976 – Elisabeth to get a Sixth Campaign
Here is the good news that Elisabeth would be re-lined. This was greeted with revived hope and appeared to ensure that the works would continue for at least another five or six years given the cost of relining the blast furnace – a major undertaking.
Bilston’s Drive For Quality July 1976
Christine Marks is perched on the roof of the training centre with a good view of Elisabeth (and Christine!). The buildings in view directly behind housed the Drawing Offices and Work Study Department and were on the right hand side of the main road into the works.
October 1976 – Golf Pride
Bilston are winners again of the A.O. Peech (of Steel, Peech and Tozer – a pre-nationalisation steel company) Trophy…
Ironmaking Challenge: December 1976
Attempts by David Hunter to reduce the phosphorous element in Elisabeth’s iron output in a bid to improve efficiency in the steelmaking process.
Stan Smith Retires
The presentation for Chief Metallurgist Stan Smith in February 1977. I recognise Wolverhampton Works Quality Manager, Brian Littleford on the extreme left hand side of the picture.
New Ladle Lining and Export Order
Bilston continued to improve steelmaking practice with new firebricks taking an idea from Germany – and won a good export order from Italy (Dalmine SpA – I remember it!).
Elisabeth Causes Problems
A difficult time for David Hunter and his team. A ‘Scaffold’ is when cold raw material sticks to the inside of the furnace and then builds up, effectively choking the process.
Elisabeth On Trial….
Looking to improve efficiency David Hunter calls in the BSC Labs to assist.
…And Gets Results
The work by the BSC Labs seems to have paid off…
Jim Latham
Following his award (see ‘Steel News’ September 1975 – above) Jim Latham’s double end firing method breaks a nine year steelmaking record.
Elisabeth’s Demise
Elisabeth was never to recover from this break in production only 12 months from commencing her Sixth Campaign.
Bilston Secretaries on Tour
Here are some familiar faces. Left to right : Irene Blewitt, Linda Bowers, Marlene Gelder, Carol Fellows, Edna Davies, Jean Pitt and editorial assistant Lorraine Caswell (right).
Peter Corfield
Peter was personable and clearly very capable. I remember he was a constant visitor in the Billet Sales office in the usual works apparel of white hard hat and spark proof jacket.
Double End Firing
More vindication for Jim Latham with further conversion of ‘G’ Furnace.
Export Team 1977
My only other claim to fame as Export Co-ordinator, a sales role reporting to the Head Office at The Ickles in Rotherham. To my right is my right hand man (literally) at Bilston finishing end, Export Stocktaker Percy Clark.