To start off on the right foot in whatever job or task one undertakes and to show willingness to learn is most important if one wishes to succeed. When Colin Purkiss left school at the age of fourteen at Christmas, 1946, he knew well that he would have to start learning all over again, learning to do a job of work that would earn him his living, and he also knew that if he wanted to succeed he would have to put his heart in h is job. So in January, 1947, he came to East Tilbury to Bata, and was put under the watchful eye of Foreman Bill Roberts of Dept 453. First he learned the routine of conveyor work, and how each department works as a team, and that to beat peak production every member of the team has to give his best.

Colin was given the task of cementing platforms and his willingness to learn and improve soon showed him to be a useful member of the team, until today, at fifteen, he gets through some 600 platforms daily without difficulty.

But Colin is not satisfied with only working daily, so he regularly attends evening classes in engineering and draughtsmanship and at the last term’s examination came top in science and did well in mechanical drawing and in maths. When he reaches the age of sixteen in December he hopes to be able to transfer to the engineering department, for he thinks that he would prefer to be an engineer.

Living in Stanford, he cycles to the factory every day. When he has any spare time, he likes to play the piano or to go out cycling.

Speaking of Colin Purkiss, Foreman Bill Roberts told Bata Record that he had no doubt that Colin would do well. “He does everything he is asked to do in a cheerful spirit, and nothing is too much trouble. Although he is high spirited, I have always found him a thoroughly conscientious boy, who likes work and is not afraid of it.”

So after his foreman’s testimony, Bata Record wishes well to the boy, who starts out with the right ideas.