There have been instances of entire families working for British Bata since the earliest days, either in the form of every member being here at once, or younger members succeeding others; in every case the association has been a hundred per cent., and the total period of service has run into many years.
All the five people in this week's family have worked, or are working, for British Bata. The senior Bill Hobbs (left), clicker in Dept 405. Upstairs in the leather factory, in the sewing sectionof Dept 472, is his 22 years-old daughter Joyce, and, in the garage, is his younger son Rodney. His wife Eleanor used to work in the leather factory, and his elder son, David, before joining the Royal Navy, was an electrician in the engineers department.
Bill has been a shoemaker ever since he left school, coming to British Bata from a factory in Northampton where he cut linings by hand. His first job at East Tilbury was doing the repairs for the leather factory by hand.

"I had a little room on the top floor." he explained, and was kept busy on re-cutting.
"After that, I was made an assistant-instructor in Dept 405, mainly teaching women how to use the press-cutting machines. When British Bata, during the war, was making Army boots, I cut the first plan for the Army boot conveyor; some of the cutting for these boots, also, was my hand.
"Next, I was transferred to leather stock, and there helped to prepare leather for Dept 405."
Bill served for three years in the Royal Corps of Military Police, in France, the Low Countries, and, eventually, Berlin, returning to East Tilbury in 1946, to leather stock.
But he was soon back in Dept 405, and started to cut for some of the high quality men's welted shoes which werre - and still are - being made in Depts 471 and 472. He also cut the fine British Bata men's calf shoes. He is, in fact, a senior and experienced clicker, and always a cutter for best quality footwear.
"I left Northampton becaus I heard of the opportunities which British Bata was offering," said Bill " and soon learned to appreciate a good, steady job, with firm prospects. I like the factory and it's people."
Bill is popular with his workmates, and is a steady, reliable worker. As readers of Bata Record know, he is an exceeedingly clever magician, a member of the Magic Circle, and no stranger to theatres, music halls and parties.
His wife worked in Dept 472 sewing section for several years, and left for health reasons. His elder son is serving in the Mediterranean, on the cruiser H.M.S. Delight, and is due home shortly.

Joyce and Rodney are quiet, keen young people, shy of talking about themselves, but both glad that they followed their father's advice to come to East Tilbury. Joyce (right) has been a folder for nearly all her eight-and-a-half years service in the sewing section of Dept 472. She came straight from school, and, she told Bata Record, has always been happy.
One of the most popular workers in the department, Joyce is a girl of few words, but a prolific and accurate worker, and a shareholder in the department. "Tip-top and absolutely reliable" is how Forewoman Doris Mitchell describes her.
She was one of the original members of the Bata Keep-Fit class, and, with fellow-members, has appeared in shows given by the dramatic section of the Sports and Social Club.

Rodney also came straight from school, and is on a five years' apprenticeship as a motor mechanic at the garage where he does small repairs and general work.
Interested in anything mechanical, Rodney aims to be a motor-car engineer and is already a handyman at making, mending and repairing - where other things besides car are concerned. For one day each week he attends Grays County Technical School.

"One of the reasons why I came to British Bata was because my father and sister were there," hesaid, "they both recommended the Company, and explained that it had an excellent garage, I was glad to hear that. I am very happy in my work here."
Rodney is 16, and has worked in the Bata garage for a year.