Two members of the Bradley family have, between them, worked nearly 40 years - one more striking tribute to the British Bata reputation for excellent working conditions and continuous opportunities for success. The men in question are Johnny Bradley (left), one of the best known foremen in the rubber factory, where he is in charge of the school, and his brother Tommy, who works in Dept 306.
For the past three years, Vera Bradley, Johnny’s wife, also has been in the rubber factory, where she is an analyst in the laboratory.
When Johnny came to East Tilbury, 21 years ago, things were very different from what they are now.

Machinery was not nearly so extensive, the range of footwear being produced not so comprehensive, and the number of workers smaller than that which is today employed on one floor. He has seen the factory grow from two small buildings to its present proportions, and its ramifications extend far and wide. He told Bata Record that he has never had an unhappy moment here.
To be in charge of the rubber factory school is an important and responsible position, and Johnny does it with outstanding ability. During his career with British Bata, he has handled almost every design of rubber footwear produced in the factory, so is well fitted for the main essential of the school - to put new and untried Batamen and women through their first paces.
“I joined the Company in 1934, straight from school,” he said, “having been successful in an application for work. My first job was brushing and trimming heels. I soon discovered that I liked the work, and was next made a manipulator, in which capacity I quickly learned more about the rapidly-developing Bata activities.
“Before the war, I was promoted checker in Dept 322, which was then making wellingtons.”
Johnny’s war service extended over nearly six years, when he was a stoker in the royal Navy, in destroyers. He was at the gallant but ill-starred Dieppe landing, and also served off Italy, North Africa and Ceylon.
“When I returned to East Tilbury”, he said continuing his story, “I shared with Foreman Eddie Ralph the important duty of training workers for jobs at the Maryport factory, which reopened for footwear production soon after the war. I believe that several of the operators still at Maryport today were trained by Foreman Ralph and me.
“In 1948, I myself went to Maryport, as a checker, and, a year later, I came back to East Tilbury, and was made foreman of the rubber factory school. Subsequently, I return ed to Dept 322 and wellingtons, and then I went to Dept 341, where slippers were being produced, as they still are.”
Johnny took over the school again when Foreman Vic Law went to Maryport as chief examiner. He takes a real interest in his job of training new workers, all of whom first work for a period, usually about four weeks, in the school.
Most of the workers who pass through Johnny’s hands are, like he was once, straight from school, and end-of-term time is always an especially busy one, as then there is an extra big influx of new workers.
He takes a personal interest in the trainees, and is always at hand to explain and demonstrate how things should be done.
Size-markings and other indications are also indicated on these diagrams drawn to scale on squares of cardboard and the idea of Johnny, Floormanager Harry Mulcock, and others.
“When workers here become proficient at a job,” explained Johnny, “they are placed in other workshops. In some cases, workers at the school are trained to become key-workers - these are usually the young trainees who show notable keenness and aptitude.
“It means they must know more than one operation, and be ready to go to any workshop which needs an operator for any machine from where a regular worker is absent. Key-workers, in fact, do skilled work in any part of the factory, and they also help to teach newcomers.
“Most new workers with whom I deal are keen and intelligent, and I can tell all of them, from personal experience, that adaptability and concentration on work is very much worth while.”
Pat Rogers, Johnny Fayers, Bill French, Will Hopkins, and others, started together, and now all have important and responsible jobs. That is a striking testimony to the Bata system.
In his younger days, Johnny was a successful lightweight boxer, and recalls the occasions when Joe Crews was hitting the high spots in the heavyweight class. Now he is in the committee of Tilbury Football Club, and is always present at their matches. He is also keen on motoring.

Vera Bradley(right) has been a Batawoman for three years, starting with sorting uppers in Dept 306, where she remained for 18 months. She is now in the laboratory, and is a skilled, cheerful worker.
She tests samples of all textiles used in the rubber factory, also laces and yarns used in the hosiery department.
“I test and analyse them for elongation, tensile strength and quality generally,” she said, ”mainly by means of of special machines, through which the material is put, and which indicate its degree of strength and quality. The materials come from the buying department, and, when I have analysed them, I send them back, with a report which I have prepared, to that department.
“As the Record once stated in an article about the lab., nothing but the best is ever accepted for British Bata shoes.

The slightest flaw - the slightest figure below certain degree of excellence, means that they will be rejected, and never used for our shoes. It is interesting work, and I like it very much.
“Why did I come? Well, my husband being such an enthusiastic and long serving Bata worker, the house became so to speak, Bata-minded, and I naturally followed in his footsteps.”
Chief Chemist Neville Warrington has a high opinion of Vera. “She is smart, reliable and skilful,” he said, “and always gets on with the job. She gets through a great deal of work, bearing in mind that she is a part-time worker.”
“Yes,” said Vera, “my testing and analysing keeps me fully occupied as huge quantities of textiles, yarns and laces are used every week, and they all have to pass through the lab.”
Vera is used to activity, as, besides looking after her husband and their two girls, aged 14 and 10, she is on the committee of Torrell’s School, and loves dancing, going frequently to dances at Grays and at Bata Hotel. From the time she learned to play at school, until a year ago, she played hockey regularly and was a clever and capable wing forward.

“During the war, I served in the Royal Artillery, and was in the 14th Army in Burma. When I returned, I was put on a conveyor on which zip-fastener over-shoes were made. Then, in 1947, I was transferred to my present job of cutting textiles.”
Tommy is a member of the Accident Prevention Committee, which he thinks is a most useful body, especially in its role of keeping workers safety minded.
In the decade immediately before the war, industry was depressed and a shudderingly large number of men were unemployed. It was during this period that the British Bata factory opened, and gave a new lease of life to many men providing steady work at good wages. Johnny and Tommy Bradley remember those days, as they both saw that the only hope of getting work anywhere in the district was to apply to British Bata.
Their applications were successful and, in the words of Tommy, they have been happy at their work ever since. “And we get happier every day,” he supplemented.
Tommy, in the opinion of Foreman Harry Davis, is a good craftsman, steady, popular, friendly and good tempered.
Tommy’s chief recreations are billiards and snooker, which he has been playing for several years. He is a leading member of the Tilbury Working Men’s Club and Institute.

Turning to Tommy Bradley(left), reference again is to a Bataman of long standing. He is in his nineteenth year at East Tilbury, and, like Johnny, has seen remarkable changes and developments. “But small as the factory was,” he said, “an amazing amount of work used to be done. Everyone was determined to do a good job and show the world that British Bata shoes were the best. That spirit still prevails today, but newer workers will have to be right on their toes to match those days when the factory was being forged.
“My first job was lasting women’s shoes. After that, I became a manipulator - after Johnny. Then I went to Dept 302, brushing heels and soles.