Former staff from Southampton's Ford Transit factory enjoy reunion

IT was the end of an era.

Former workers from Southampton’s Ford Transit factory gathered for an emotional reunion at the company’s social club.

It is almost certainly the last time they will host a gettogether at the venue in Wide Lane, Swaythling, before the giant plant closes its doors for the final time later this month.

The plant’s business will be transferred to Turkey with scores of skilled staff facing redundancy or being transferred to a sister factory in Bridgend, South Wales.

But amid the gloom there were huge grins and roaring laughter as retired and current workers embraced, shook hands and raised a pint of beer to the better days of a bygone era.

Former production line workers, foremen and electricians renewed old acquaintances, clutching cherished photographs and memorabilia from their time there.

Jim Wells from Bishop’s Waltham and his wife Caroline, 63, were showing faded pictures taken at the club in 1988 soon after they met there.

The couple married in 1989 and Caroline said: “We had our first dates here so it brings back a lot of memories and holds a special place in our hearts.

“It was like a family in those days and we are sad to see it go. Now everyone wants to make the effort for the last big bash.”

Former drag-line repair worker Nathaniel Gordon did just that.

The 72-year-old travelled more than 4,000 miles from Grenada in the Caribbean with wife Joy, 65.

Nathaniel, who arrived at the plant in 1966 and stayed there nearly four decades until 2002 said: “I heard from a mate that it might be the last time so I had to come.

“I made friends for life here – many come out to the Caribbean to see me – and it’s sad to see that it’s going.

“There’s going to be a lot of unemployment in Southampton.”

Dave Butler from Woolston drew hysterical laughter from former colleagues reminiscing about when he made yellow hats for scores of colleagues marching around the factory in 1976 to celebrate Saints’ FA Cup victory over Manchester United.

The team famously visited the factory to show workers the cup and Dave, a forklift truck driver there from 1966 to 2002 said: “When we first started it was excellent money but you used to work like hell there with only 10 minutes for a toilet break.

“It was the good old days and all of us here have got to where we are because of Ford – you can knock them but they were good employers.”

Former worker Mike Needles, from Lordswood, Southampton, organised the event.

The 58-year-old, who retired in 2009 after 30 years’ service, sported the same Union Jack shirt he wore when driving a red, white and blue Transit from the company’s Dagenham plant to Swaythling in the mid 1990s.

His son Timmy currently works at the plant.

Mike said: “Generations of fathers and sons have worked here.

“It’s been a great plant and we will be sad to see it go but they’ve given me my working life and you can’t knock that.”