Chivers Memory Recordings
Peter Clarke
Job Role: Quality Assessment
Departments worked in: New Jam
Dates worked at Chivers: started 1965
Background information: Long term family involvement. Father worked at Chivers for 54 years, his mother was in charge of the Jelly Department, his grandfather was there for 50 years, plus two uncles.
Roger Charlton
Job Role: Factory Floor & Management Services
Departments worked in: Vacuum Preserves & Management Services
Dates worked at Chivers: 1993 – 1996, & 1997 - 2001
Background information: Ran in the London Marathon for Chivers Hartley in 1993. Wife also worked for Chivers.
Joan Fanning
Job Role: Checking ingredients were up to specification.
Departments worked in: Laboratories (with Shirley Randall)
Dates worked at Chivers: 1953 – 1960
Background information: Worked for the renowned chemist, Mamie Olliver. Remembers the Queen’s visit to Chivers in October 1955.
Shirley Randall
Job Role: Testing for sugars and metals levels.
Departments worked in: Laboratories.
Dates worked at Chivers: From 1954 - 1959
Background information: Met her husband Denis there. She worked for the renowned chemist, Mamie Olliver.
Maureen Williams
Job Role: Started in Costing and Finance.
Departments worked in: Cost office, secretary and personnel.
Dates worked at Chivers: 1970 - 1990
Background information: Maureen’s mother worked there in 1927 and her son and daughter also worked there for a while.
Gill Till
Job Role: Working on freezing strawberries research
Departments worked in: Research laboratories.
Dates worked at Chivers: 1965 – 1971
Background information: Was on TV demonstrating wobbling jellies!
David Dunn
Job Role: Engineer, last foreman in the Power Department
Departments worked in: Boiler House, Power Department
Dates worked at Chivers: from 1967
Background information: Also oversaw the sounding of the Chivers’ Hooter (the Buzzer).
John Watson
Job Role: Electrician
Departments worked in: General Department
Dates worked at Chivers: Started in 1973 to 2008
Background information: The proud owner of 4 bricks from when the factory chimney was demolished in 1986.
Cynthia Hopkin
Job Role: Jam and jelly tester
Departments worked in: Research laboratories
Dates worked at Chivers: started mid 1950’s
Background information: Her father-in-law was the foreman in the boiler room
Betty Ballard
Job Role: Accounts
Departments worked in: Accounts office
Dates worked at Chivers:
Background information: Husband used to play for Histon football team.
Mary Law
Job Role: Stock records
Departments worked in: Office
Dates worked at Chivers: 1954-1958
Background information: Mum, Dad, Aunt and possibly Grandad worked at Chivers and her Dad bought a Chivers built house.
Janet Wilkinson
Job Role: Office junior and then secretary
Departments worked in: Distribution Department
Dates worked at Chivers: 1956-1961 and 1966-2002
Background information: Eventually became the secretary for the pensions association
Denys Hartley
Job Role: Quality contoller
Departments worked in: Quality control
Dates worked at Chivers: 1975-2012
Background information: Got the job by accident
Audrey Grimmer
Job Role: Quality controller
Departments worked in: Quality control and the Research and Development
Dates worked at Chivers: started in 1964
Background information: Initially lived in Ely and came to work on the factory bus.