Women from Marconi, New Street

Your Chairman is working with Channel 4 (Twenty Twenty Television) on a project for the Titanic.

During the course of these meetings 20/20 have asked if  The Marconi Veterans Association can help with the project.

“TwentyTwenty Television is looking for descendents of the workers of the Marconi factory in Chelmsford.

 A new primetime series will explore an extraordinary era in Britain’s industrial history and bring to life elements of the truly remarkable task that was the construction of Titanic.

 The series will look at the history of Marconi’s Wireless Telegraphy system, both the development of the technology as a safety measure on maritime vessels and the specific use of Marconi equipment on board Titanic.

We are particularly interested in hearing stories of Marconi’s female workforce who worked at the Marconi factory in Chelmsford (as far back as possible), preferably on the shop floor in technical roles.  We are eager to get a sense of what life would have been like working there decades ago.

Perhaps there are women whose mothers and grandmothers worked there before them?  It would be fantastic to find out if this is a company where generations of families went to work.  In that way we may be able to get a sense of what life would have been like during the Edwardian era (c 1900s).

If you are a descendent of one of the men or women who worked at Marcon’s in the 1900s/1910s, or are a woman who worked at the factory yourself in later decades, we’d like to hear from you. 

Do we have any veterans who qualify?  Their documentary date range is actually 1901-1912.  Obviously that’s a little too far back for direct information, but anyone who has personal knowledge of the 1930s will be useful.

Please ring Kate Fraser on 020 7284 2020 or e-mail katefraser@twentytwenty.tv

Raymond Rowe

It is with great regret that we have to announce the death yesterday, 9 August 2010, of our Past President Raymond Rowe after a short illness.  Raymond was our President in 2006.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday 18th August at 1145 hours at Chelmsford Crematorium, Writtle Road.  

It will be a non-religious ceremony, there will be no flowers but donations may be made to Farleigh Hospice or the RNLI.  These donations may be sent direct or forwarded through:

Chelmsford Co-operative Funeral Services
348 Baddow Road
Chelmsford CM2 9RA