Hanworth - Branch 17

Returning into the yard at Hanworth retail branch from Hampton Road West

Hanworth retail branch was opened in November 1965, although there had been a much smaller branch in Hanworth prior to this since 1934. When the larger depot was opened it swallowed up the smaller branch together with Twickenham, Lower Feltham (Parkside) and Heston branches. A few years after opening it also took in the rounds from Harlington Road depot and went on to become one of Job's largest retail depots with over 40 rounds and a staff of around 70.

Hanworth branch also housed a retail training department on the first floor where many apprentice milkmen were trained on the art of selling groceries as well as milk.

In later years Job's also acquired land adjacent to the branch at Popham Close. This was used to house both the Body Repair Shop and also the Electric Vehicle Department which were relocated from the Plant at Hanworth in order to increase production space.

Dear Sir,

I was a milk boy from 1978 - 1983, working on round 6 at Hanworth - the milkman was Pete Ediford. I remember other milkmen that stood in whilst Pete was either on holiday or when he had a hernia - Kenny and Alan.

We had a standon reg BAP ***B, then when the battery got so bad and we had to be rescued on several occasions, we got a Jobac in about 1980. It was R reg and it was fantastic! The pinnacle of milk float technology in my mind! I was proud to be a Job's milk boy, we looked on the Co-Op with distaste! They just weren't in our league!

You have created a great site, but it doesn't have any bottles!! Could you create a section on bottles? I have an old half pint bottle - the one with cardboard lid, I could dig this out and take a pic to start with.

Regards,

Aleck Lewcock

Hi,
 
Just a quick email. My Dad used to work for Job's. I'm not 100% sure of the date but i think I was about 5 or 6 at the time. He worked at the Hanworth site which is now a Sureguard Lock and Store place. He worked there on mostly night shifts, loading the trucks up for the morning crews.

I remember a lot of things there, he worked with another guy, just the two worked on the night shift together. Not sure of the other guys name, and I can remember the large fridge with two loading doors, and a weighbridge outside the office block just to the left.

I'm sure a boy of 5-6 was not really allowed on site overnight but I loved being there, the smell of the diesel from the trucks, and playing in the cabs as they were parked up ready for the morning, so tightly together I could hardly get in or out the door.

i remember a guy who worked at a bakery next door at the time (no longer there) I called him 'woollyhat' because of the hat obviously, and he used to chuck a huge brown bag of rolls, bread and butter over the wall in return for a couple of pints of milk.

I can still smell the cold store, kind of a stale milk smell but not off-putting because the freezing temp inside the store made it a distinct smell. I also remember the float parked up the other end, and remember driving it up and down with no idea of the danger, all while my Dad worked away!
 
Sorry got carried away, just wanted to know if anyone can remember the name of the bakery next door? And does anyone have any ariel pics of the site that you may know? I can picture so much detail but to see a photo would bring back so many memories of 25(ish) years ago.
 
Many thanks.
 
Jason Grant
 
P.S. My Dad's name was Don Grant if anyone knew him. Donald Grant full name but was called Don. He smashed his toe under a tailgate one night loading up, although health and safety  then was very different. Good website by the way, interesting.

Hi all you old 'milkies',

I was at both Hounslow and Hanworth branches. My mother Rose Stock was also at Hanworth branch, in fact she was top "salesman" two years running in the fifties and I believe I was the last holder of the 'Roberts' Cup.

Some of the characters I remember from those days were Mr Bradnam (a fanatical Hounslow Town football supporter) also Bill Glass, who was my mothers inspector. I also worked under him at Hanworth.

In later years I was at Hounslow, Dick Rance was my manager, later it was Mr. Cartwright. Whilst there I won a trip to Paris, I think I came second selling Christmas hampers. I still talk about that weekend to this day. Dick Rance will remember it as we shared a room, not many of you can say you slept with your manager and it took a bit of time to live down! Jack Fastnedge was a good mate of mine at that time.

In 1985 I moved down to Tadley and was there when Unigate took over. I continued with them until I retired in 1999. I'm glad to have found this site and wish it success.

Jim Stock 

My name was Pamela Wilson when I worked for Job's. I worked at Teddington, Sunbury, Twickenham, and Hanworth. When the new Hanworth was opened I was chosen to present the bouquet to the Mayoress. I have many memories of when I worked there.

Pam

My name is Charlie Keene, aged 49 1/4.

I'm not sure if I really qualify as an ex-employee of Job's, having only done occasional milk rounds as a young lad out of Hanworth depot. But how I remember gathering around the gates at the crack of dawn (I was never good at mornings) waiting for a chance to work. The round I usually ended up on covered the Watermill Way area.

But my memories of Job's as a consumer go way back before that to the early '60's. I remember a really popular roundsman called Bob coming to our flat in Towfield Court when I was a toddler. He had an electric hand pulled cart then, and came as regular as clockwork, twice on Christmas eve. We were happy to learn that when we moved to Barnlea Close, he would still be our Milk Man.

I also vaguely remember the old Job's shop on the corner of Hampton Road West and Sunningdale Avenue, where the doctor's surgery now stands. Was that the 'Old' Hanworth Depot, too? Surely there wasn't enough room.

After the sale of the business to Unigate I saw a man wearing a "Bring Back Job's Better Milk" tee shirt at a Hanworth Carnival. If only.

In 1989 I married a girl from Midhurst Road, Ealing who - it turns out - was raised on Job's milk from the Ealing depot. Quality always shines through!

This is a great site. I have learnt lots about this great institution. Thank you for it.

Charlie Keene

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this page. We will be adding some photos and text about Hanworth branch in the near future. In the meantime if you have any photos, stories or information about Hanworth you would like included please send it to us.

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