were being carried out might have to stop
A Wo rd F ro m Ou r Le ad er
We had a visit by Hanson Chief Executive, Mr
Alan Murray, who spoke to a number of you
about the state of the industry and the reasons
behind the current closures and lay offs.
This mainly due to two major points the price of
gas and the lack of sales. He is confident that
things will get better as the industry as been
through this before in 1996 and 1988.
In conclusion the visit was a success and I would
like to pass on Alan’s thanks for making this visit
worthwhile. Also I would like to pass on my
thanks for making Swillington look good.
Alan Murray – Chief Executive
Energy
As I mentioned above the gas/electricity prices
are really hurting the industry and Swillington is
no exception. We are currently looking into
fitting Inverters on various motors on the kiln to
help with efficiency and reducing energy costs.
We have also fitted a lighting control box to use
lights when and where we need but every bit
helps so please switch lights off when they are
not needed.
Any other ideas are welcome so please feel free
to contact us.
Quality
The new instruction from Hanson Building
Products Board is that any quality fault is the
fault of the works and the works will have to pay
for it out of there budgets which means that
projects that
1of2
because of these payments.
It is everyone’s job with regards to quality so lets
be vigilant and cut out the own goals
Health & Safety
A new accident board as been fitted detailing the
amount of days since our last reportable accident,
please let’s work safely and get these figures
increasing.
Two people have been trained for accident
investigation K Sawyer and D Bell. Every
accident shall be investigated – we need to carry
on our record.
Projects
The new cutter has now been installed and is
working okay, this completes the program at the
Auger area with the Sander and Spray Booth.
The Block lifter in the Kiln Car repair bay is
imminent, the new gas oil tanks have been
installed and four new forklifts should be
arriving shortly.
Qua rr y M at ter s b y Mic k B ra y fo rd
In 2005 we obtained extra land
to the north of the factory. D.
fox and R. Smillie started
stripping the soil and preparing
the benches for excavation.
Some of the material off bench
two went straight down to make
the first layer of the stockpile which was
completed before Fox Plant came to start the
stockpile.
On the 15-05-06 Fox Plant started making
stockpile No16, then came the rain, the first two
weeks were a complete wash out, however after
that the excavation has gone very well.
I. Lund has been tacking samples of each layer of
the stockpile to send to Kirton for analysing.
The stockpile was completed on the 19-06-06.
Fox Plant will be here until the 23-06-06. taking
waste material to the tip.
Thanks to every body involved
A Quic k W or d Fr om Tod dy
 I came to work at what Daniel Lumb
was then Armitages Robert Jolley
back in 1971, I think it Who all started full time employment at
was June 1st 1971 when Swillington during 2006
George Parkinson then Wor ks Sta tis tic s
the manager set me on Finish
though he said Date Produced Sales Stock
afterwards he always 1st- 8th May 372,972 262,396 10,846,720
regretted that decision. 8th- 15th May 462,932 333,224 10,997,220
He would often wail it was one of the worst 15th- 29th May 405,508 253,172 11,159,952
decisions he had ever made but he soon ran off 29th May - 5th Jun 272,132 229,868 11,402,784
5th- 12th Jun 454,736 303,472 11,554,500
leaving a new manager called Rex Armitage to
12th- 19th Jun 432,112 402,020 11,582,904
deal with me.
I started work doing all sorts of jobs round the Jok es B y Mi cha el
old kilns, working with the drawers and the For decades, two heroic statues, one male and
setters and did quite a bit of labouring. one female, faced each other in a city park, until
Towards the end of 1971 the Mr Men books one day an angel came down from heaven.
came out and I found myself packing bricks in "You've been such exemplary statues," he
the bottom garage with Maggie May, you know announced to them, "That I'm going to give you
those were the days. a special gift. I'm going to bring you both to life
About mid 1972 they were building the new for thirty minutes, in which you can do anything
factory and the general manager Oliver Speak you want." And with a clap of his hands, the
said to me about the new setting machine “Tha angel brought the statues to life.
mun’ get that machine learn’t lad” and so I did The two approached each other a bit shyly, but
and ended up working on it until 1982. soon dashed for the bushes, from which shortly
Blimey in the last 34 years here I have been emerged a good deal of giggling, laughter, and
through some managers I think I have mentioned shaking of branches. Fifteen minutes later, the
George Parkinson and Rex Armitage well there two statues emerged from the bushes, wide grins
was John Speak (Olivers son), Phillip on their faces.
Ploughright, Keith Wilcox, Geoff Warren, Mark "You still have fifteen more minutes," said the
Woodward and of course Mick Lardner. angel, winking at them.
I came into the office in 1982 I was in the office Grinning even more widely the female statue
with Mick Brayford, David Cossins, Eric Naylor turned to the male statue and said, "Great! Only
and Ernie Capper in those days we did two shifts. this time you hold the pigeon down and I'll crap
Below is a photo of us all… on it's head."
Innkeeper: The room is $15. a night. It's $5. if
you make your own bed.
Guest: I'll make my own bed.
Innkeeper: Good. I'll get you some nails and
wood.
In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the
woman listens. In the second year, the woman
speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they
both speak and the neighbours listen.

A Sp eci al W elco me T o…
David Zinnis

2of2