Gillett & Johnston Employees
We are trying to create a catalogue of all employees who have worked at Gillett’s dating back to 1844. Most of the employee records sadly have been either lost or destroyed. They form a hugh part of the history of the firm and Croydon and we would dearly love to hear from anyone who had relatives who worked at Gillett’s.
The factory used to cover 5 acres of land and employed during the war years over 1250 men and women helping to make munitions, working day and night.
Gillett employees by the Freedom Bell in Croydon
Gillett employees at the Grandison Ballroom in Norbury dated 20th January 1948.
The picture below is of a staff party in 1948 and I love the notice that Jitterbugging is strictly prohibited. The picture on the left is of Gillett engineers and the Freedom Bell which was made in the factory before being sent to Berlin.
Hi, I worked for gillett and Johnston when i was 16 in 1977 and my mother also worked for gillets in the bell factory. She has sadly died and I never got to see a picture of her with the company. Would you possibly have such a picture . Her name was Doris Giles.
Kind Regards Steve.
Hi Steve,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us. We don’t have alot of records surviving of employees and I,m afraid I have been unable to find a picture of your Mum. if in the future any more information does come to light I will of course be in contact. Do you know the dates when she worked at the factory?
Kind Regards
Sophie
Hi my dad denis coates worked for you from 1950 to 1956
He did his apprenticeship with you, as a electrian, the man who taught him was Eric proctor
I have one of your coronation bells he has a magnifying glass with your name on it.
He remembers working with a couple of people, one was the bell erecter called jock
Two apprentices one called dolly (grey) nick name apprentice tool maker
Kieth green nick name cabbage green apprentice welder
Len the mechanical fitter (maintenance)
Miss cockeral was the buyer
Look forward to hearing more
Thanks sue coates