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.