Two brothers and two sisters, whose length of service totals 56 years, form the family on which this week's spotlight falls. Other brothers and sisters have worked at East Tilbury, bring the record to something approaching the century - a striking example of the family popularity of British Bata.
All members of the family under review work in the leather factory - Arthur Chapple (right) and his wife Jean, his brother Vic (below) and Jean's sister, Doreen Wall.
Arthur has been here 18 years, and is edge-setter in Dept 471. He came straight from Craylands Senior School, Basildon, and worked in the claims department before joining the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1942. When he returned four years later he went to Dept 442,

which was then making Army boots.
When this production ceased, he was transferred to his present department. A steady, conscientious worker, he is popular on the conveyor, and enjoys his work.
"I would not have stayed here all this time if I did not like it," he confirmed to Bata Record. "I never regretted my decision to com to East Tilbury."
Arthur has a large garden in which he grows fruit, flowers, and vegetables. When not at work, he is nearly always in this garden, finding, in addition to relaxation and enjoyment, that the work in maintaining it helps materially to keep him fit.
Jean is firstwoman and a shareholder

Bata. The friendship culminated in marriage.
"She is one of my best girls," said Sewing Forewoman Phyllis Cowdery.
At one time, Jean had two sisters and a brother working here. One sister, Doreen (left). is still in the leather factory, where she is a key worker for sewing sections. She came straight from school 15 years ago, and her experience has covered skiving, binding, and conveyor operations for a wide variety of shoes and slippers. Between the ages of 16 and 21, she was a forewoman.
"There are not many jobs I cannot do," she said, "but one can always learn at East Tilbury, and I want to know as much as I possibly can about shoemaking. I have been a key

in the sewing section of Dept 423, and she and Doreen, usually to be found in the neighbouring Dept 422, are two of the most popular girls on the floor.
When she left school Jean lost no time in joining British Bata, as her brother and sister had spoken so well of it. "They said it was a good place in which to work," she recalled, " and they were right. I have not had one unhappy moment."
Jean has spent most of her 12 years here on vamping. She told Bata Record that she did not have much time for relaxation now, but admitted that she used to be a keen supporter of Rayleight speedway, and was also keen on skating - she met Arthur at a Southend rink, when she felland he picked her up. Neither knew that the other was working for British

worker for six months now, and I love it; I should hate to leave."
Doreen met her husband while he was working in the stockrooms - he is now a policeman on Canvey Islan d - and she and Jean had a double wedding five years ago.
The only Chapple who did not come to Bata straight from school is Vic, who does faire-stitching in Dept 431. He worked for a firm of packing-box makers in London, and, hearing the factory recommend by his brothers, came to join them. Before he went on faire-stitching, he was a sole-attacher.
"I agree with the others that British Bata is a firm well worth working for," he said.
Vic regularly attends a school of dancing at Leigh-on-Sea, and had a bronze medal for ballroom dancing, of which he is particularly fond.