by
Mildred Cookson, the Mills Archive, UK
As the miller at Mapledurham watermill near Reading for more than 30 years, my attention was naturally drawn to an account in Milling (February 18th, 1950) of a miller with an even longer connection to the town. Number six in the series of "Men in the Mill" articles it recounts the story of "Teddy" Simms.
At the time of writing he had been a rollerman for more than 45 years with Messrs SM Soundy and Sons at their Abbey Mills in Reading. His story was used to reinforce a general point about a certain type of country mill, "You never hear of any labour trouble or anything of that sort at that mill". The management and the men knew and respected each other. They had grown up together, as it were, and "there are a good many case of this kind in the flour milling industry".
Teddy was born on October 18th, 1888 and had lived in the same house all his
life. He started work at the age of 13 at Messrs Huntley and Palmers in
Reading. His wages were 5/6d per week, of which he gave his mother 5/3d,
reserving for himself just 3d a week for pocket money. On June 10th, 1904 he
entered the service of Messrs SM Soundy & Son as a mill boy at a wage of
eight shillings a week, this time giving his mother 7/6d a week, retaining 6d
for himself.
In 1908 he became a screensman and in 1911 a flour packer and relief purifierman. In 1917 he was called up in the Royal Marines and discharged for disablement reasons in November 1918. He returned to Soundy’s service in December of that year, became a purifierman in 1919 and went on to become a rollerman.
Teddy saw many changes in the mill, such as the changeover from water and steam to electric power and the replacement of horse transport by mechanically driven vehicles. His worst experience was in 1908, when one of his workmates fell into the waterwheel and he had to assist in extricating him.
His best times were when the mill was running smoothly, and he was satisfied that he was making a really good sack of flour. In fact, he looked upon the mill as his second home and the reporter commented that he should have to take a long day’s march to find a man more cheerful and contented than Teddy, remarking that it was beyond him to state whether that had anything to do with the further fact that he was a bachelor! He was very happy and had no wish to work anywhere else.
Teddy was a trade union member for 30 years and served on the branch committee as secretary of the mill works committee. The article concluded that there was no question of split loyalties; at the Abbey Mills management and the men wished to work together harmoniously, and it was an axiom that if you wish hard enough for a thing, you are on a good way to obtaining it. The Journal concluded "If the friendly spirit that is characteristic of this and other country mills were animate throughout the industrial life of Great Britain, there would be no need to worry about the dollar gap or any other economic difficulties".
Read more HERE.
As the miller at Mapledurham watermill near Reading for more than 30 years, my attention was naturally drawn to an account in Milling (February 18th, 1950) of a miller with an even longer connection to the town. Number six in the series of "Men in the Mill" articles it recounts the story of "Teddy" Simms.
At the time of writing he had been a rollerman for more than 45 years with Messrs SM Soundy and Sons at their Abbey Mills in Reading. His story was used to reinforce a general point about a certain type of country mill, "You never hear of any labour trouble or anything of that sort at that mill". The management and the men knew and respected each other. They had grown up together, as it were, and "there are a good many case of this kind in the flour milling industry".
In 1908 he became a screensman and in 1911 a flour packer and relief purifierman. In 1917 he was called up in the Royal Marines and discharged for disablement reasons in November 1918. He returned to Soundy’s service in December of that year, became a purifierman in 1919 and went on to become a rollerman.
Teddy saw many changes in the mill, such as the changeover from water and steam to electric power and the replacement of horse transport by mechanically driven vehicles. His worst experience was in 1908, when one of his workmates fell into the waterwheel and he had to assist in extricating him.
His best times were when the mill was running smoothly, and he was satisfied that he was making a really good sack of flour. In fact, he looked upon the mill as his second home and the reporter commented that he should have to take a long day’s march to find a man more cheerful and contented than Teddy, remarking that it was beyond him to state whether that had anything to do with the further fact that he was a bachelor! He was very happy and had no wish to work anywhere else.
Teddy was a trade union member for 30 years and served on the branch committee as secretary of the mill works committee. The article concluded that there was no question of split loyalties; at the Abbey Mills management and the men wished to work together harmoniously, and it was an axiom that if you wish hard enough for a thing, you are on a good way to obtaining it. The Journal concluded "If the friendly spirit that is characteristic of this and other country mills were animate throughout the industrial life of Great Britain, there would be no need to worry about the dollar gap or any other economic difficulties".
Read more HERE.
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