Arthur Jeffcoatt, a chargehand in the Engine Shop, Canley, received a special award from the Company for long service. Arthur has not retired but has joined the small band of loyal stalwarts who have completed 50 years of service at Standard Triumph.
Arthur Jeffcoatt (far right) talked about the past to Mr. M. W. J. Sanders, our Director and General Manager. Others (left to right) Mr. C. Swain*, Machine Shop Superintendent, and Mr. C. H. Brown**, Machine Shops Manager.
DIRECTOR’S THANKS On behalf of the Directors and the Company, Mr. M. W. J. Sanders, our Director and General Manager, thanked Mr. Jeffcoatt for his long and excellent service and presented a gift of Premium Savings Bonds.
TRIUMPH QUALITY Arthur thanked the Company for his presentation. He later praised the Company’s high quality in its car production today. He had seen mass production evolve since the old hand-made models and thought the high quality of our present models was astounding. He had owned cars for over 40 years and his present model —a Triumph 13/60 — was the best he had ever had.
RECORD OF SERVICE
Arthur left school in 1920 when the school leaving age in Coventry was 14 years. He started at Cash’s Lane, learning to operate capstan lathes under the late Mr. Walton. At a wage of 12/6d. per week he began a seven year apprenticeship. During his long training he learned milling, grinding, and the control of semi-automatic machine tools. He also had spells at Canley factory.
MOVE TO CANLEY
Arthur was moved to Canley after completing his apprenticeship in 1927. His work was fitting engine to chassis on the popular models of the day. After five years in Assembly, he moved to the Engine Shop and has worked there for many years. During the 1939-45 War years Arthur did a lot of work on Beaverette engines for armoured cars and engines for other military vehicles.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Arthur attributed his well preserved appearance to his wife’s help through life. Mrs. Jeffcoatt and Arthur were keen members of the work’s tennis club in the past. They are also supporters of the work’s old time dancing club. Mrs. Jeffcoatt is the organiser of a local club for old people. They are both on the committee of Coventry branch of flights to Canada and America.
They have a son in Canada, working on electronics, and a son in Coventry who is a civil engineer. Their daughter is at Leeds University.
March 1971
MORE:
Arthur can be seen HERE on this remarkable photo from 1929.
http://www.triumphworks.co.uk/1929-photograph/
Known as Paddy.
PLUS Arthur ‘Paddy’ Jeffcoatt (this being the correct spelling).
The family were very close with mine, Paddy playing tennis with my father.
REF HERE 1952: Civil Defence Unit
Submitted by Cliff Jones
* Charlie Swain
His war-time work was at the shadow factory at Fletch. Where he worked with Charlie Swain on boost fittings for aero carburettors.
REF: http://www.triumphworks.co.uk/bill-bateman/ (Photo)
** Charlie, Henry Brown
Machine Shops Manager, ref via census
Bill Sanders – http://www.triumphworks.co.uk/mervyn-sanders-general-works-manager