One of the best known and most numerous families in Linford is that of the Pennell's - there are mother, father, six sons and four daughters, besides several cousins and relatives by marriage.
It was almost inevitable that some of them should work for British Bata. The father, Dick Pennell, did, and his example was followed by four of his sons and two daughters. One of the former, Harry, left the rubber factory only a few weeks ago.
Now, one son, Ernie Pennell (left) in oil stock, and one daughter, Elsie, in the hosiery department, are carrying on the Pennell link with the Company, supported most closely by sister-in-law Alice and cousin Dorothy, both in the rubber factory.

Ernie is the elder of the main Pennell family still working at East Tilbury, and, as he is 21, it would be an insult to him to describe him as a boy, although everyone referst to members of this prolific family as boys and girls - probably because the term has a homelier sound than men and women.
For a year before he came to British Bata, Ernie was a footman at a country house in East Tilbury parish, but left because he wanted a job with better prospects.
"This was obtainable at British Bata," he said, "and I soon found that every consideration was given to workers who did their job conscientiously."
I was in sundries stock at first, delivering nails and other articles to the leather and rubber factory. Although I was there onlly for a few months, I think Imust have handled thousands of these articles.
"My principal jobs in the oil store, where I came about 18 months ago, are to fill oil cans with oil for the various factory machines, and deliver petrol to the rubber factory. This is done every morning and afternoon, the spirit being conveyed in jerrycans on a trolley."
Oil storekeeper Reg Lummis explained that it is a planned delivery, the departments informing the store of their requirements each day.
"I like the work,' continued Ernie, "and I do not mind how busy I am kept - I am used to being busy with a familly as large as ours! My father, brothers and sisters, all prophesied that I should like it here, and they were right."
While he was a youngster at school, Ernie developed a love of gardening, and this has grown steadily since. He spends all the spare time he can in the garden at home, and, when he is not there, he helps to tend friends' gardens - "digging, planting, lifting, anything." he said.

Dorothy Pennell (left), cousin to Ernie and Elsie, is on the preparing table in Dept 333, where she has worked for most of her two years' service in the rubber factory. Her first job was stitching backs in Dept 387 - the school.
"Nice people to work for, and nice people to work with," was her concise reply when asked what she thought of British Bata. "It is my first job since leaving school - although I was helping at home before I came here," she added, "and I was glad I was accepted."
Dorothy still does housework, as there are four younger brothers and sisters at home, but her chief service to them is knitting. For a long while, she has knitted all their woollies, and every evening sees her busy with needles and wool of which she uses several pounds a year.
Sportrite uppers are stitched in Dept 333, and, says forewoman Mary Barber, preparing them is a responsible job which Dorothy does well. "She is a shareholder, and a very reliable worker," amplified Mary.

Sister Elsie (right), youngest of the Pennell's in service at East Tilbury, and last of the line to come to East Tilbury, is a knitter in the hosiery department, coming straight from school just after Christmas last year.
"With my father, Florrie (a married sister), John, Dick, junior, Bob and Harry, having been Bata workers, and Ernie, still happy here, it was natural that I should come too," she explained.
Elsie is a girl of few words, and is just settling down to work again after several weeks' absence through appendicitis. She laughed when asked if she had a hobby, and said: "What do you think a girl's hobby is in a house in which there are 15 peopls" (there are other relatives there, besides brothers and sisters). The Bata Record replied, with brilliant inspiration: "Could it be housework?"
Elsie's glance spoke volumes.

Alice Pennell, wife of Dick (junior) (right) has been a Batawoman for nearly 10 years, having started in January 1945. At that time, the conveyors werre not operating, because of artime restrictions, and her first job was on the repairing table for wellingtons.
As the conveyors started up again, and more and more workers returned to the rubber factory, she did several operations, mainly on wellingtons, plimsolls and galoshettes - overshoes made for the Middle East market. They are now being produced in Dept 322, where Alice does the pulling-over.
"I have seen the rubber factory develop rapidly during the time I have been there," she said. "Old machines got going again, new ones were installed and the number of workers grew and grew. They are a cheerful company and there is a friendly atmosphere all over the floor (320). We all like our jobs, and we all appreciate the fair consideration we receive."
Alice is a senior worker in the rubber factory.

"She is reliable and adaptable," said Foreman James Hook, "and can be trusted with any job she does - and she knows how to do several."
Cycling is Alice's chief relaxation, and she is seldom seen without her machine, which she has ridden hundreds of miles. But, like her sisters-in-law, housework takes up a large part of her time. "running a house and going to work does not leave much time in which to be lazy," she commented, "but I get a kick out of it. Reasonably hard work never kills anyone."