Husband & Company..

[Jim Hardie]

ALL these replys and no one remembers my Mom the tea lady, she was there for years, even lived in a flat on the top floor for a few years

 

I was only there for six months in 1978 poppins. Val the secretary made the drinks on our floor.

[Jim Hardie]

Hello, first time poster.

 

I'm a Californian, but from 1967-73, I was married to an Englishman and lived in Sheffield. I spent the first few years doing office work mostly through temp agencies, until I found a job from 1970-73 with Husband & Co. in their General Office. I loved it!

 

I worked for Ron Walker and mostly typed long reports and specifications (I still want to type U.S. "aluminum" as "aluminium"). We had great fun in the office, very silly. If we didn't actually have work on our desks, we could do whatever we want: read, knit, reenact the latest Monty Python episode. Only if people like Richard Husband or Mr. Kington appeared were we required to look busy.

 

Speaking of Mr. Kington, most of the other women in the General Office were afraid of him. He liked my work so I usually got assigned to him when his secretary wasn't around.

 

We had the best leaving do's, meeting at a local pub or dance place and rocking out.

 

Once a whole shipment of letterhead arrived with the address wrong: it said "383 Glossop Rd." It must have been the fault of Husband & Co., because for the next year or so, whenever anyone had spare time, we would sit and make the last 3 into an 8.

 

While I worked there, they were rebuilding Britannia Bridge. One Friday morning Mr. Walker asked me if I could go there for the weekend (the local clerical worker was away). So I got on a train and was put up at a very nice B&B with all the engineers. Turns out, there wasn't any work to do, so I just got to hang out and tour the site. Instead of going back to Sheffield on the train, I rode back with Richard H. in his new Jaguar.

 

During this time, Thomas H. (married) was seeing one of the secretaries. He was friendly...no kidding.

 

In the room adjacent to General Office were the tracers, doing all the wonderful plans and designs. It fascinated me.

 

We took turns making tea/coffee for the folks in our office. Occasionally someone would forget to take a teabag out of a cup. The unhappy surprises were called "dead mice."

 

In 1973 I left my then-husband and returned to the U.S. but I have really fond memories of working at Husbands.

 

Linelle Lane

 

Hi Linelle, you were a few years before my time at Husbands.

I felt sure I was going to find you amongst this lot:

 

Lori Lemaris is one of several Superman characters with the alliterative initials "LL", including Lex Luthor, Lana Lang, Linda Lee, Linda Lang (Supergirl's latest secret identity), Letitia Lerner, Lena Luthor (Luthor's sister pre-Crisis, and daughter post-Crisis), Lyla Lerrol, Liesel Largo, Lenora Lemaris (one of Lori's sisters), Leta Lal (Lori's ancestor), Lightning Lad, Lightning Lass (sister of Lightning Lad), Lightning Lord (brother of Lightning Lad), Lorraine Lewis, Lucy Lane, Luma Lynai, Lionel Luthor and Lois Lane.

[Falls]

Hello, first time poster.

 

I'm a Californian, but from 1967-73, I was married to an Englishman and lived in Sheffield. I spent the first few years doing office work mostly through temp agencies, until I found a job from 1970-73 with Husband & Co. in their General Office. I loved it!

 

I worked for Ron Walker and mostly typed long reports and specifications (I still want to type U.S. "aluminum" as "aluminium"). We had great fun in the office, very silly. If we didn't actually have work on our desks, we could do whatever we want: read, knit, reenact the latest Monty Python episode. Only if people like Richard Husband or Mr. Kington appeared were we required to look busy.

 

Speaking of Mr. Kington, most of the other women in the General Office were afraid of him. He liked my work so I usually got assigned to him when his secretary wasn't around.

 

We had the best leaving do's, meeting at a local pub or dance place and rocking out.

 

Once a whole shipment of letterhead arrived with the address wrong: it said "383 Glossop Rd." It must have been the fault of Husband & Co., because for the next year or so, whenever anyone had spare time, we would sit and make the last 3 into an 8.

 

While I worked there, they were rebuilding Britannia Bridge. One Friday morning Mr. Walker asked me if I could go there for the weekend (the local clerical worker was away). So I got on a train and was put up at a very nice B&B with all the engineers. Turns out, there wasn't any work to do, so I just got to hang out and tour the site. Instead of going back to Sheffield on the train, I rode back with Richard H. in his new Jaguar.

 

During this time, Thomas H. (married) was seeing one of the secretaries. He was friendly...no kidding.

 

In the room adjacent to General Office were the tracers, doing all the wonderful plans and designs. It fascinated me.

 

We took turns making tea/coffee for the folks in our office. Occasionally someone would forget to take a teabag out of a cup. The unhappy surprises were called "dead mice."

 

In 1973 I left my then-husband and returned to the U.S. but I have really fond memories of working at Husbands.

 

Linelle Lane

 

Hi,

 

I remember you, Linelle and when you left the company to return to the US. The secretarial group used be on the 4th floor if my memory serves me right.

 

I worked at Husbands' April 1971 to April 74 when I came to Canada. We were in Richard Husband's group on the second floor. This included Helen Steer, Richard's secretary, George Green, Mike Seeger, Ray Chesterton, Alan Fletcher and myself. Then there was Elsa Bigg's in the library and Alan, the accountant.

 

Most of the time I was there, I worked on the "Bridge Guard" safey/reconstruction program, in conjunction with London Office.

 

Oh! one other thing, I do remember Frances, the tea lady

 

All a long time ago

 

Regards

Edited August 3, 2011 by Falls

[linelle707]

Hey Falls,

 

Can you tell me your name? Or email me linelle@sonic.net. Were you originally Canadian, or did you emigrate?

 

Yes, General Office was on the 4th floor. We went through White Out like nobody's business. Also smoked constantly. There were two older ladies in our group (Miss Hulley and Miss Carr) and they must have died with all the smoking the rest of us did, not to mention the stories from the weekend.

 

The second floor was a lot more rarefied than the 4th, as it was getting closer to the 1st floor and DR. HUSBAND. We had to mind our Ps and Qs down there. I remember Helen Steer, who was very nice, and George Green was one of my favorites in the whole company, really nice guy. Ray Chesterton rings a bell. I don't remember a library. Oh, Chris La Pla was Dr. Eastwood's (I think that was his name) secretary.

 

There was a guy, can't remember his name, who worked on the Tehran (they spelled it Teheran then) radio telescope, another favorite.

 

I'd worked in a lot of offices before Husband's. Some were straight out of Dickens. So, for the time, the Husband's gig was pretty sweet.

 

Linelle

[Dazz1]

Oh my god thats brought back memories. I started as an office junior in 1988 and was made redundant in 1992 when it was took over by Mott MacDonalds. Loved working at Husband and Co, good memories.

 

I started as an office junior in July 1978 and left October 1979, and have extremely fond memories of Husbands. I worked in the general office under Ron Walker and a lady (Beatrice somebody (cant remember surname)), she taught me shorthand every lunchtime, so I actually didn't get any lunch most days! It was great, the social calendar was brilliant (pity the pay wasnt up to scratch or else I'd have stayed a bit longer!) We had such a laugh in the office, I often wonder if anyone is still around from those days. I would expect Linda is and Julie (from the office opp), there was Mo (lovely bubbly Mo) and Jean and Brenda, Josephine (who I would like to apologise to for smoking when she really hated it, sorry Josie - I haven't smoked now for 20 years!) Also Marion and a snooty woman (can't remember her name who was soooo full of herself and we used to laugh at her!) Then there were the girls next door who were such good fun. Then OMG there were the partners ... it was like Dallas and JR! I once got told off for using their loo - only partner bums could use those! And Sir Charles once commented to me ..."are you a horse woman?, with such long legs .... it made me chuckle!! They were lovely but in their own world I think. I often wonder if any of the staff went down to Mott MacDonalds but with what you said sounds like redundancy followed. Would love to hear if anyone knows of people mentioned, Im racking my brain to think of the other secretaries, though I remember Val from 8th floor, I think!

[linelle707]

When I started in 1970 in the General Office, a woman named Susan (can't remember her last name) started about the same time. I didn't know shorthand (because I didn't study to be a clerk-typist, just happened to know how to type) so I couldn't be considered for a secretary, which ended up suiting me fine. There was something too subservient about taking dictation for me. Anyway, Susan soon got a Secretary's job on the 6th or 7th floor (McCartney?). Later, Susan became the love interest of the very married Thomas Husband. Everyone knew, so I imagine Mrs. Thos. Husband did as well. I actually liked Thomas (I refused to call him Mr. Thomas), because he didn't seem as snooty as the other Husbands. Being American, the class distinctions were very annoying to me.

[Dazz1]

I think I remember Susan his secretary and I did prefer Thomas to Richard (Thomas was more approachable), though they were both at it .... I remember a gorgeous office belonging to Richard (though we mere mortals were only allowed into the secretary's office) .. I used to try and peer through to see what might be going on in the next oak panelled room. I remember a very huskily voiced secretary call Miss Dunn (I think) with blond hair and a practiced sexy walk (her teeth used to mesmerise me)

[pjkay]

yes the father was charles husband and i believe one of his sons was called richard.

isnt charles husband called camilla parker bowles????

[Irie]

I have been away from sheffield for many years and when I heard about the sheffield forum i decided to catch up on wonderful days gone by. My father's work was associated with many of the "bosses" from Husband and company and we enjoyed socialising with many familes.

I was sorry to hear that Sheila Littler passed away. Anyone got any news on John and his sons. We played together as children, went to school together and it would be good to be back in contact.

[mikeG]

I have been away from sheffield for many years and when I heard about the sheffield forum i decided to catch up on wonderful days gone by. My father's work was associated with many of the "bosses" from Husband and company and we enjoyed socialising with many familes.

I was sorry to hear that Sheila Littler passed away. Anyone got any news on John and his sons. We played together as children, went to school together and it would be good to be back in contact.

 

The last address I have for John was in Hingham, Norwich but he left there, I think, to live with one of his sons. I last spoke to John in September 2010. He was fine but since then, I have mislaid his phone number. If I can find it, I'll let you know. John and Sheila used to live near us in Sheffield but I know John was brought up near where I live now in Hawarden.