"EAST HAM:- ...... LONG SERVICE
ROLL OF HONOUR - Mr James Wilson has 32 years' service. He joined Dundee
Sales Staff in 1924 and was transferred to London in 1928. Like many
another Lawsonian, he found his partner in marriage with the Lawsonian
staff. During the War he served as a Sergeant in the Royal Artillery.
When East Ham was opened Mr Wilson was sent there to take charge of the
Departmental side of the business." This photo was taken
in 1973 when James went to Australia.
The following Lawsons work record document may now be
quite a rare survivor of its kind. When this particular type of
employment document was instituted by Lawsons is not known, nor when it
was superseded by more modern technology.
This small piece of paper is very useful from a
historical point of view. It let's us know that James was employed as a
salesman. It gives his address as 32 Seagate Street, not far from
Lawsons branch shop. We learn that he joined Lawsons on the 15th
February 1924 in 1908 at the age of 16. Some confusion here as it was
initially put down as 1907. Family historians beware!
His salary at Lawsons was 30/- per week and increased to 40/- (or
£2.00) the day after Christmas day 1927. At that time £2.00 a week was
quite a reasonable wage for the average working man.
Unfortunately his further record of service at Dundee is not
recorded, but we find that he is transferred south to the big city,
where he commences work at Hammersmith, apparently for a salary 60/-
(£3) a week.
Marriage of James Wilson & Dora Elizabeth Jeffreys -
15th April 1933 with friends & family
"The bride & groom are in middle of the third row"
(Any other Lawsonians among the happy throng)?
The photographs and employment record of James Wilson are all
courtesy of Eileen Karlsson who now lives in Australia. She passes on
the following information and comments.
"Thank you for adding my father's name to the Lawson's list.* I wish
he were here to see it and appreciate the work you are doing with the
history. I vaguely remember The Good Account, but probably took little
interest in it as we were young and his workplace was so far away. I do
remember quite a few names on the list, but especially Philip Robertson
and Peter Cromar who were friends of his. Peter Cromar and his wife
(Dolly, I think we called her) were good friends of my father. They came
to our house in Bounds Green a few times, and I remember that they came
with my father and I to the annual Scottish concert at the Festival Hall
each year. The rest of our family wasn't particularly interested in
going with us. I think it was a Burns concert held in February each
year. I think that Philip Robertson came to our house only a couple of
times." .......
At the time my sister and I were evacuated to Wales early in 1941. We
lived over a large shop at 10 White Lion Street, Islington. .... It had
a large dome on top where an incendiary bomb dropped and my father had
to put it out. I have been wondering what work my father was doing and
why we were there. My mother organised the afternoon teas in the
upstairs room. My father was called up in wartime, but I don't know what
date that was. I do remember being in the basement when the warnings
came, in fact I fell off my bunk, breaking my collar bone. Mrs Cromar
brought me a hand-made woollen doll to play with which I think she had
made. I was three years old. (Our evacuation is another story).
Here we see Eileen dancing with her father at one of the
Lawsons dances in the 1950's. Possibly held in London. Can anyone
suggest where it might have been, or anything else about the kind of
event in the history of Lawsons?
Here we see Eileen the right with her
sister Anne on the left at the same dance as described above.
James Wilson & Grace at Shepherd's Bush Branch, London, circa 1970,
standing behind the counter of the Household Linens department.
Since 1964, Lawsons Ltd had been ceased to be a family firm when it was
taken over by United Drapery Stores Limited. However, the name Lawsons
was still retained for many years thereafter. James
Wilson retired from Lawsons in 1973, and to mark this event of long
service to the company, he received a cheque for £250 (a not
insignificant sum in those days) to mark the occasion. Along with this
gift her also received two letters remarking on his loyal service. The
following are direct quotes from these letters.
From Mr De Keyser : John Blundell Ltd:
It is with much pleasure that I
forward to you the enclosed cheque in the sum of £250 in recognition by
the Board of Directors of your retirement earlier this year from the
employment of Lawsons Limited, and the fact that you had given so many
years of loyal service to Lawsons prior to its acquisition by John
Blundell Limited. I must personally apologise to you that nearly half a
century of service to the Company had not been recognised previously in
a more tangible manner, and it is the sincere hope of the Board that
this cheque will be accepted by you as a parting gift, and will perhaps
assist in some way towards the implementation of your future plans.
...... From J A Sampson : United
Drapery Stores Ltd:
It was not until I spoke with you at
Shepherds Bush on Friday that I was aware of your retirement and whilst
you have actually been with the U D S Group since the acquisition of
Lawsons Limited in 1964, it will mean that you have nine years service
with the Company. However, I was interested to know that you have served
almost 50 years with Lawsons, which is a remarkable achievement and the
Directors join me in offering you congratulations. ..... |