The catchline “It runs in the family”, should really read “It runs in their families,” for this week three families linked by marriage are featured in the story. In all they form a little groups of eight in the British Bata community and their combined service with the Company runs into a hefty total of years. There are not many British Bata employees at East Tilbury who do not know the Francises and the Barters, seven of whom still work at East Tilbury and at least three more had been on the Company’s payroll. Last of the octet is Bob Clarke, of whom more later. Bob comes in the story because he became the husband of one of the Francis girls - Ruth - who has given up her job to become a full-time housewife.
It all started 156 years ago, when George Francis joined British Bata as a worker in the rubber manipulation department, he found the work so much to his liking that he remains on that floor to this day. He is one of a number of long service workers in that section of the rubber factory.
June, his wife, has been with the Company for nine years as a leather factory worker and when she was single was a forewoman in charge of a closing room.
One of George’s brothers, Fred, is a key worker in the leather factory, another, Peter, also on the rubber factory ground floor, has just finished national service, and one sister, Jean, in in Dept 471.
June’s maiden name was Barter, and she has a sister, Eileen, in the rubber factory, and a brother, John, on the building staff.
This is not all. George’s father, Bill Francis, another brother Arthur, and another sister, Ruth Clarke, used to work at East Tilbury - in fact all the family except his mother did. Doreen, Arthur’s wife, is in Dept 424, and Bob, Ruth’s husband, is in Dept 341.

George (right) has done every job in Dept 302, including mould-cleaning and clicking, is thoroughly reliable, and is a general favourite with his workmates.
Like his wife, George is good-tempered and cheerful. He is pleased that such a large proportion of his family, and that of his wife, if working, or has worked for British Bata, particularly in view of the fact that he, so to speak, set the fashion. “I came here because I wanted a steady job,” he explained. “Friends at Corringham said to me, “Why not try British Bata?” I took their advice, and am jolly glad I did.”

June Francis (left) works on the top floor of the leather factory. She went straight on to stitching in Dept 424, which was then making sandals, crossed to Dept 421, and was afterwards made forewoman of Dept 423. “I was only 17 then,” she said proudly. After getting married she went back on stitching, and she now joins and stitches counters. “I knew George was working here,” she said simply, “because we were next-door-neighbours, and had been friends since schooldays.
“What do I do when not at work? Mostly keep the house we have on Bata Estate - that takes nearly all my spare time.

But we find time to look after our budgerigars, and have 70 of them, all colours of the rainbow - blue, green, yellow, violet and white.”
Forewoman Phyllis Cowdery’s opinion of June is: “A good girl, who can do any sewing job.”
Fred, (left) like brother George, is calm, steady and reliable, and, for the past year, has been a key worker in the leather factory - which means that he must be ready to do any job, and be proficient on any machine. He started ten years ago, and worked his way through various departments and processes, helping to make practically every type of footwear produced in the leather factory. He is particularly reliable at edge-setting, heel-slugging, sole-attaching, and heel-attaching.

“I had several friends, as well as relatives, at East Tilbury,” he said, “and they all said how happy they were. I thought I would like to join them in steady work.”
Fred keeps goal for Corringham and Fobbing F.C.
Jean Francis (right) was described to Bata Record by Irene Realf, of Dept 471, as “one of the best workers in the department.” Jean disclaimed that honour, but she has all the Francis trait of quiet concentration on work. she has worked on most sewing machines on the third floor, and is now on vamping.
“I came straight from school, ten years ago,” she said, “and had no hesitation about what work I should choose. Yes, brothers and friends talked about British Bata, and I decided to follow their example and join them.”
Jean is an expert knitter, and has produced scores of attractive and colourful jumpers, pullovers and other garments.
Doreen (bottom right) is considered one of the best workers in Dept 424 sewing section, where she has been fitting linings during her seven years as a Batawoman. Adaptable and lively, she also preferred the good conditions and security of British Bata to previous work - in this case in cafes. Her husband, Arthur Francis, used to work in the rubber factory.
“I have no hobbies - unless you call housework a hobby,” she said. “That takes all my spare time.”

June’s sister, Eileen Barter, (left) is a popular, auburn-haired girl in Dept 333, where she started two years ago on lacing, but was soon switched to her present job of binding. “She is one of my most reliable girls,” said Forewoman Mary Barber.
Quiet and modest, Eileen is an active outdoor type of girl, and will be remembered as the winner of four prizes on British Bata gala day this year, finishing as the third woman athlete of the afternoon. She is a good runner and jumper, and can hold her own at field events. She is also fond of tennis and swimming.
“I like all sports,” she told Bata Record, “and, besides sports prizes, I have won prizes and certificates at school.”
Her brother John (left) started here in 1947, left to join the Royal Navy two years later, and came back last March.
“I started on insole-attaching in the leather factory,” he told Bata Record, “and then went upstairs on heel-attaching. When I returned from the Navy, I did night-shift work on the presses on the top floor of the rubber factory. Then I returned to the leather factory for a little while. This was until outside work could be found for me, and I am now on the outside staff of the building department, doing repairs to roofs and many other outdoor jobs. It is work which I love.

“I met my wife, who also used to work here, while on leave, and married her exactly one year later. I had to come out of the Navy some time, so I decided to leave it and get a job among my friends and relations while I was young.
“While abroad, I bought a guitar, and played it at ship’s concerts. I also play it at home - and nearly drive my wife mad!”

Bob Clarke, (right) husband of another Francis sister - Ruth, who used to work at East Tilbury - presses casuals in Dept 341, where he has been for four years, “carrying on the Francis tradition.” His hobby isf fresh-water fishing.
Another Barter boy, Geoffrey, now in the Merchant Navy, formerly worked in Dept 302, where Peter Francis, brother of George and Fred, worked for three years before his national service, which he has just finished.