holmes7 0 Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 I started in the workshops as a labourer aged 15 in Sept 1965. The Monday after the Jubilee year open day 1915 - 1965. After one year i started my apprenticeship in the training wing of the workshop. Moved into the main workshop after one year, moving to different sections of the workshop ie Tinsmiths,assembly section,engine section and Vehicle lines. Ended up working on the fv 432 line then moving on to the Chieftain tank line in 1975. We also played Football and Cricket for the workshops playing other Depots around the country. I could go on for ever, so if anyone wants any info about the depot contact me *****************.co.uk Email address deleted as it keeps the address safe from spammers etc! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 Welcome Holmes7 I am sure wil will find many subjects here to add to Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 knew couple of guys from there, stan brookes and john greenfield, ring any bells? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,464 Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 I didn't work there 'cause I think it closed before I reached working age, and I've never known anybody who worked there, but I have one memory of the place. When you went along Nottingham Road past the depot, you crossed a bridge which went over the railway line connecting the depot to the outside world This is the view you got from the bridge chilwell and as a kid who was easily impressed, I always used to look to see if there were any tanks hanging around. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poohbear 1,360 Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 I used to deliver Crawfords Biscuits there in the sixties...about the time a local coal supplier got prosecuted. His waggons got signed in at the weighbridge...then drove straight through to the exit weighbridge,where they passed envelopes stuffed with money to the bent guard who let them through fully loaded. A nice little earner until an area inspector spotted what was going on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 am I right in thinking the tank testing ground was other side of that bridge? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlebro 234 Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 Yes Ashley, the tank proving ground was between the 'Depot bridge' and main line, where the Village Hotel and Halfords is now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,464 Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 In the early 1980s I was working in Long Eaton and every day I used to drive past what remained of the depot (it was half closed down and half surviving). For several months there were a pile of anti-nuclear demonstrators camping outside the entrance on Nottingham Road. I think they were there in sympathy with the Greenham Common lot who were upset about Cruise missiles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlebro 234 Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 I believe the anti-nuclear demonstrator camp was due to at one time part of the old Ordnance site (western warehouses) was rented out to the USAF for vehicle storage. The USAF was in turn connected to the nuclear weapons. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
holmes7 0 Posted November 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 people who worked for the americans Barry Widdowson Perry Wardle Andy Widdowson Phil Exley Trevor Pollard Mark Shaw and a few more Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Kanno 1 Posted April 27, 2021 Report Share Posted April 27, 2021 Hello everybody my name is John Kanno I worked there at the depot from 1977 to 1981 as an electrical apprentice had many friends. I lived in Long Eaton but moved to the United states in September of 1981 but still come back since I have family still in the area. I went to Long Eaton Grange school, then on to Roper and Long Eaton Grammar School. I remember working in quality control and actually getting to drive the Chieftains as a kid it was the best thing. If anyone remembers me I am ok with the site admin giving my e-mail address on request. Its still home 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oztalgian 3,283 Posted April 28, 2021 Report Share Posted April 28, 2021 I worked at 38 Central Workshops Chilwell in the early seventies. I worked for QAD (FVE) part of the job was checking if the rebuilt FV432's and Chieftain's conformed to specifications as well as sorting out engineering errors in the stores stock. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StewB 0 Posted July 9, 2022 Report Share Posted July 9, 2022 served my there starting in 66,left 75 to in merchant navy the last 2 years there i was in the test house,normally on meteor’s & meteorites Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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