Q & A with The Work Furnace Project Officer Hannah

Interviews, group reminiscence sessions and street theatre have made for a busy few weeks for The Work Furnace Project Officer Hannah! We caught up with her earlier in the week to chat all about what she's been up to:

What has your experience of working on this project with Eastern Angles been like so far?

The project has gained traction very quickly. I knew that social media was going to be a key way of engaging former industrial workers given the popularity of local reminiscence Facebook groups like Ipswich Remembers, so I was quick to set up a Work Furnace group. The initial trickle of members has now become a swathe of 500+! It became clear very early on that there is a real public appetite (from those that are aware of it) to acknowledge and celebrate the industrial heritage of the town.  

How have you found the process of interviewing people?

I have found the whole process a complete joy. People very much live in the here and now, so being able to facilitate a trip down memory lane is a true privilege. What I am learning (even when poised with a loose set of questions) is to expect the unexpected. I spoke to a gentleman the other day who expressed interest in the project from the point of view of being a former Crane’s employee- it transpired during our conversation that his great-grandfather was Richard Rapier, founder of Ransomes and Rapier! 

Any favourite stories or anecdotes you can share with us?

I have met some fascinating people with equally fascinating stories. From hilarity to heartache, I’ve been very surprised by how open people have been. I had the honour of meeting Ernest Clarke, a production manager at Rola Celestion for 40 years , who moved from Surrey to Suffolk after the expansion of the Foxhall Road factory. Ninety-nine years young, he told me that prior to this role he had been in the RAF posted to 484 GCC on Goodwood Racecourse in May 1944 then to Normandy through Germany. The comradery he experienced here clearly influenced the relationships he had with his employees - he often counselled them through hard times and defended those that experienced prejudicial comments on grounds of gender and sexuality. 

The most jaw-dropping story so far concerned Herbie Beckett. A professional boxer in his youth, Herbie worked in the forge at Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies and also ran the work’s shop. According to a colleague, “if you didn't settle your bill, he’d hit ya.” The management’s response to this arbitrary violence: “well, you should’ve paid him.” Considering he reputedly sparred with World Champion Joe Louis that must have hurt! 

Last week you were out in Ipswich performing some street theatre inspired by the stories you've been collecting - tell us about that please?

It was my first experience of being involved in street theatre - I'm used to being part of the audience! Despite the cold weather, we attracted quite a crowd.  

The performance was based on some of the anecdotes shared by former employees that had engaged with the project via our Facebook group and in-person interviews. ‘Clocking in’, the multitude of bicycles on the daily commute and the heat and noise within the foundry were widely acknowledged as common features of Ipswich industrial life. We made sure these were referenced in the performance, which even featured an authentic clocking in machine and factory siren. No street theatre is complete without a bit of audience participation, thus the show concluded with audience members joining the “bus queue” on Nacton Road and were rewarded for their hard day’s work with a “pay packet” (containing chocolate coins). 

As well as entertaining the Christmas shoppers (our stilt-walking actors were dazzling), the purpose of the performance was to make further connections to former workers and their relatives. We found a plethora of people from the likes of Tooks bakery, Crane Ltd., Harris Meat Factory all keen to share their stories and connect with colleagues.  

What are your plans for the project moving into the new year?

Having amassed a following online, January 2023 will be a great time to meet members of the community that wish to play a more active part in the project. We will therefore be hosting several reminiscence and co-creation sessions at our centre. Whether you worked in manufacturing, had a relative that did, or if you simply have an interest in local history and community initiatives, we’d warmly welcome your involvement. So butchers (Harris’), bakers (Took’s, Newsteads etc.) and air compressor-makers, your experiences will shape what’s to come so watch this space for further updates.