When Joan Elborne came back to work in the rubber factory, “Bata Record” knew that, sooner or later, another numerous family would have to be recorded. The time to tell the story has arrived and, although the number concerned is eight, relationships are commendably straightforward - five brothers, two sisters, and a sister-in-law.
For Joan is elder sister of the “Scott boys”, all of whom re well know and popular with their fellow-workers. They and their sisters followed each other to East tilbury, each one coming after good words about the company and factory from those already there. Now, all eight are happy and industrious.
Joan’s sister, Maisie Hobson, as well as her brothers Arthur, Ted and Johnny, also work in the rubber factory, as does Arthur’s wife Angela. Her other brothers, George and Keith, are in the leather factory.

“It was a happy day for me when I set foot inside the rubber factory again,” said Joan. “I was last here 13 years ago, and the time seemed to slip right away. There are many more workers than when I left in 1941, and more shoes are produced, but the speed and enterprise in work is just the same, and - this is what I like particularly about British Bata workshops - there is the same friendly atmosphere, from the floormanagers downwards.”
Joan is sole fitter in Dept 322, and Foreman Jimmy Hook is very glad to have her, because, he said, she is adaptable, willing, and able to do practically any job at the conveyor with a quiet efficiency.
“Well I ought to know something about rubber factory operations,” smiled Joan, “as I have done several of them. When I started in 1934, I was a manipulator, despatching materials to various departments. then I did various conveyor jobs, and helped to make sandals, slippers and Army slippers, among other designs.
“So you can understand that I did not feel a stranger when I came back a month ago. I had always remembered the happy days I had before I left in 1941, and, although 13 years is a long time between periods of work, I felt young and bale enough to com back again - I had watched my brothers go to East Tilbury, one by one - and they all told me how much they liked it, so I thought it would be a good idea to keep them company.
“For those who are prepared to do a good day’s work for a good day’s pay, British Bata cannot be beaten. Young people have excellent opportunities for a successful career, but ability, rather than years, counts at East Tilbury. I notice especially that older people, able and willing to do useful work, are made very welcome. If they do get engaged, I feel sure they will soon feel happy, as I did.”
Joan’s sister Maisie served three periods with British Bata, the first from December 1941 to April 1942, the second from June 1947 to September 1949, and the third from April 1950.
In her early days, she helped to make rainette boots - a type of overboot. When she returned, she again went on rainettes, and subsequently worked on six-eyelet boots. Now she is binding slippers in Dept 342 sewing section.
“I have done most sewing operations on various types of footwear,” she said, “and like Joan am glad to be back. Previously, I worked full-time, now I am a part-timer. Like her, also, I am pleased to work where the rest of the family works - and not only works, but are happy at their jobs. I came in the the first place because my friends said how worthwhile working for British Bata was.”
Cheerful and friendly, like all the Scotts, Maisie is a fast, active and capable worker, fond of gardening when she leaves the factory - and when respite from household duties, including coping with a lively five-years-old daughter - permits her.

Longest serving of the male Scotts is Arthur (right), on the presses in Dept 332, where Sportrites are made. Coming to East Tilbury straight from school, eight years ago, his first job was dipping wellingtons. Then he worked on californias.
“I was put on the presses about 18 months ago, when I returned from national service,” he said, “ and I like it very much.
“Both my sisters had served with British Bata when the time came for me to start work, and both of them said that here was the place brisk lads who were prepared to work for more than reasonable wages. I found out long ago they were perfectly right.
“I think I like my work in the presses better than any other I have done in the factory, but we all have a job to do in maintaining and increasing production, and we all should - and, I think, do - take an interest in it.”

Arthur does Territorial training twice a week, and sometimes at weekends at Stanford.
His wife, Angela, who stitches counters for casuals in Dept 342, had also been a British Bata worker for eight years. For most of that time, she has worked on the floor below, stitching and binding Sportrites.
“I came here straight from school,” she said, “ and was soon made welcome by the girls, who are friendly and cheerful, and among whom it is a pleasure to work.”
Most rubber factory workers will remember Angela by her maiden name of Henry - she was married last July after she and Arthur had become attracted to each other from the first time they had met in the factory, when they were both working on the same floor. A conscientious worker, she can adapt herself to almost any sewing job. Like her husband and brothers-in-law, she became a Bata worker after recommendations by friends or relatives already working here.
On the ground floor of the rubber factory is Ted Scott, whose main work is clicking in Dept 301, and despatching foxing and other material to conveyors. “He has worked on the callenders,” said foreman Bill Allot, “and is a real handyman, who can be trusted to do almost any job - I can tell him to do something, leave him, and know that it will be done.”
“It was five years ago, when I left the Army, that I came to British Bata, having worked at Shell and for a firm of engineering contractors. I decided to apply for a job at East Tilbury because my sisters told me about the factory, and is sounded just the place for me. I was right.”
In his spare time Ted plays football and cricket, and is also a badminton enthusiast. His wife is a supervisor of a children’s occupation centre at Chelmsford.
The two youngest Scotts are George and Keith. Both came straight from school, both are in the leather factory, and both play football for Corringham and Fobbing junior team.
George has been in Dept 471, where men’s welted shoes are made, for two years, and, says Foreman George Haxell, is a reliable young worker. He aims to learn most conveyor jobs, and is already competent at heel slugging and at trimming inseams.
“The rest of the family was here, so I thought I would like to join them,” he said. “I was told I would like it , and I do.”
In addition to football - he plays at outside left - George has recently taken up dancing.
Keith, aged 15, is the youngest member of this prolific family at East Tilbury. He helps to make monoliths in Dept 442, where he is an upper attacher. He left school only five months ago, but he did not take long to adapt himself to the work and atmosphere of shoemaking.
Like his brothers, he is interested in sport, and he is the Corringham and Fobbing Junior’s left back. He is the youngest and latest Scott link with British Bata.
Helping to make men’s slippers on the top floor of the rubber factory is yet another brother - Johnny Scott, well known to Bata Sports football fans as goal keeper for the London League reserve section team.
When Johnny came to East Tilbury five years ago, he was heel lasting wellingtons in Dept 322. After he returned from national service, in which he as a corporal-cook in the R.A.S.C., last July, he was assigned to his present job on the presses, in which, he told Bata Record he is keenly interested.
“And,” said Foreman Jock Cuningham, “you can say tat he is a real top line worker, efficient at his work, and popular with his fellow-workers.”
He has always been interested in football. He first played for Bata Juniors. Then, at the beginning of the present season, he was in the Essex Business Houses League side. His promotion to a London League category was thoroughly justified.