大象传媒

My most treasured memories of my time working as a toolroom apprentice at the Bristol Aero Engine works are of the lunchtime concerts that took place in the works canteen. This was where I had the pleasure of seeing and listening to the well-known music hall stars who appeared once a week, in a morale boosting E.N.S.A. show.

One particular show featured Gracie Fields, Britain's top music hall star, who entertained a canteen audience of several hundred workers on Wednesday lunchtime in July 1941.

The Wednesday E.N.S.A. concerts were not the only entertainment that took place in the canteen. During my one hour lunch break on a Monday, I could enjoy my appetising one and sixpenny dinner whilst watching my work colleagues dancing in front of the large stage, to music being played on teh old 78rpm records.

On Tuesdays, I enjoyed the wonderful sould of the "Bristol Brass Band", made up of musicians employed at the "Bristol", whilst on Thursdays the "Bristol Big Band" took to the stage, providing the workers with music for modern Dancing. These talented musicians were also employees at the factory, who in their spare time played in the resident big bands at the Accrington Conservative Club, the Astoria Ballroom at Rawtenstall, the Imperial Ballroom at Nelson and the King George's Hall at Blackburn. And on Fridays, the workers had the opportinity to take part in a free and easy, to display their talents as singers, comedians or musicians.....Happy Days!!

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