Memories of the first day on which British Bata started production at East Tilbury, 21 years ago, are recalled by Foreman Jim Hollington (left), of Dept 431 sewing section, and longest-serving member of the Hollington Family.
Jim’s brother George is the well known chief rubber chemist, and Jim’s daughter Florrie is in the retail department. In addition, Jim has a niece in the same department in which he works, and a nephew on the ground floor of the rubber factory.

“I am one of the originals,” said Jim, “and I can tell you it was a godsend when the late Thomas Bata decided to open a factory here. It was a bad time for employment, and the establishment of an industry in this district gave new hope to scores of people.
“I well remember when, with many more men, boys and girls, I came to St. Clere’s Hall to put down my name for work. The register was then in the form of a book kept in the kitchen of Mr W W Wilson’s home.
“There are about 30 workers still here who started on that memorable day - a high proportion of the total number signed on. This speaks for itself. We knew East Tilbury before British Bata started and are appreciative of the benefit to many people conferred by its establishment - and, in saying this, I am voicing the opinion of all my fellow-originals.
“We have seen many changes in personnel, as only to be expected in a vast commercial enterprise, but most of those who change are too young to know of the hard times which followed the first world war.
“I watched eagerly the first building grow, and believe that, had it not been for the second war, our factory would have been considerably larger. Most of the original workers served in that war - I myself was away for six years - but we came back, and were thankful that there were jobs for us.
“Like most of the first workers, I had little choice of where to work in the early days. I started in manipulation, heel trimming. I came back to the last named job after the war, and took a sewing section course under Assistant Leather Factory Manager F Mucha. I was appointed foreman of Dept 431 sewing section about five years ago. I have been on most sewing sections in the leather factory.”
Jim himself now conducts training courses in sewing, for Mr Mucha, and his classes, every Tuesday, are always well attended. His students included several workers who, he says, are now checker and foremen.
For some time, Jim ran the sewing section of the leather factory school, now in charge of Cavell Attridge, who, as Cavell Driver, was another original worker, and one of the first women workers to receive a 20-years’ long service award - the same time as himself. Many workers, especially girls and women, began their Bata career under him.
Asked if he liked his work, Jim replied: “Do you think I would continue to stay here,, after the very first day, if I did not? It depends largely on what you mean by ‘liking’. True liking mean s weighing up the good points of a job, as well as it’s faults - which, when analysed, often prove to be one’s own, and not the job’s at all.

“My advice to new and young workers is to make a go of it and stick it out, and not to be dismayed at the first little obstacle. Do not be afraid of asking - there is always someone, such as a checker or foreman, or experienced worker, to help, and grievances can be voiced, and are nearly always solved, by reference to the Management Advisory Committee, of which there is a member on every floor, eager to hear what workers have to say.
“No other firm of which I know takes more interest in it’s employees - and I know what I am talking about, as I had several jobs before coming to British Bata. They were only short periods, certainly, but, in the bad days of the ninetten-thirties, one was glad to get a job, even thought it might be temporary, anywhere.”

In addition to his sewing section work, which he does at almost jet speed throughout the day, Jim is well known as the author of the attractive and artistic posters used in the factory quality competitions. Most of these are humorous, and reveal an acute and creative mind.
“I like to create things. I paint,” he said, “and I have done oils and watercolour pictures, but today I prefer to be out of doors, as I have a nice big garden. I really have no fixed hobbies, but maybe in the winter I shall do some more painting, and most certainly some toy making. There are always jobs about the house to do - decorating and repairing, and I often do jobs for friends, so I never lack a hobby.
“An active man, if fact, should never lack one. Every job gives more experience, and nothing gives me more pleasure than to tackle a job which I have never done before. The thrill when one succeeds is, believe me, well worthwhile.”
So it can be seen that Jim practices what he preaches.
Many workers will probably remember another Hollington brother - Horace, who worked in the rubber factory, and was killed in 1941. It was on his - Jim’s - advice that the children - Jim and Margaret - of an older brother came to British Bata to work.
Jim was just too old to join the original draft of young workers from East Tilbury to go to Zlin , but, he said, George went, and learned chemistry and rubber technology.
In 1946, George, who has given long and valued service, was appointed assistant chemist in the rubber factory, and 15 months later, chemist.

Florrie (above), Jim’s daughter, is in the retail department, where she has remained since she left school. She started on bank receipts, and has dealt with other documents. Now she expects a transfer to another department.
Possessing a good deal of her father’s adaptability and industry, she told the Bata Record she learned typing and operating of Elliott Fisher machines “mainly on her own, in between times, and out of factory hours.”
She is 17, and, again like her father is fond of painting and drawing, for which she has won prizes at school, but does not do much of it now. “I came straight from school,” she said, “and love clerical work. When I told my father the sort of job I wanted, he advised me to come to British Bata at once, and I followed that advice”.

Jim junior (right) is on a textile-drying machine in Dept 301, and, in the words of Foreman Bill Allott, is “a good boy”. Before coming to East Tilbury he worked on the Royal Daffodil, the popular pleasure steamer plying between London, Gravesend, Southend, Margate and the French Coast.
“I worked 16 house a day then,” he said, “every day of the week, except Friday, peeling potatoes and doing other jobs. The work was seasonal, and I was glad to get a steady, all-the-year-round job at British Bata.”

He also has the Hollington urge for industry, as he does voluntary work for a printer at Tilbury on Saturday afternoons. “So I do not get much time for hobbies.” he explained.