JOSEPH CHARLES
Joseph and Alfred in Reyrolle group 1923
Joseph was a Toolmaker at A. Reyrolle.
He died aged 63 when living at 14 Newton Terrace. Hebburn.
Alice died aged 77 when living at 103 Victoria Rd.
Came from London to work with A Reyrolle
Lived in Victoria Road, Hebburn.
Buried in Hebburn cemetry
His son Jo also worked for Reyrolle until about 1945. He then worked as an engineering consultant.
Jo and his wife lived at Plantation Grove, Bill Quay. Both are buried in Hebburn cemetry.
London. Sept 11, 08.
Dear Jim
This time am quite determined that you shouldn't wait so long for an answer to your welcome letter.
I suppose that by now your dear wife and children are again with you and self and all in good health. Of course having to put up with such a dreadful climate it would be almost an extraordinary thing if you hadn't now and then an attack of ill health. I see that after all allowing for certain drawbacks that can't be avoided you won't improve your condition financially or otherwise. It only remains for you to make the best of it in those circumstances. Perhaps the time is not far off when you'll be compelled to join another station but for goodness sake don't wish you'd be transferred to Aden, a most wretched unhealthy place indeed.
As you say British colonies ( a few excepted) offer a better chance for existence's struggles. But it seems that everywhere, above all here, good times have gone by never to return again. There is not the slightest hope for any workman, however clever, steady, thrifty etc. to save for a rainy day. In most of the workshops you have always that thrown in your face. Too old at forty!
At the present rate of high pressure of producing with aid of continually improved machinery displacing thousands of skilled mechanics - added to that, the cut throat competition amongst workers - the remorseless exaction of capitalists whose only motto is 'profits'. Consequently weaker slower ones bound to go to the wall.
Hence the frightful number of unemployed in every centre of industry. So much so that in principal towns relief works have to be started to alleviate misery, starvation, especially becoming more acute at approach of winter - and to make matters worse in many large factories as is now the case in Lancashire spinning mills a reduction in wages is contemplated. G E Railway already propose in view of great competition by tramways, motor buses etc. greatly affecting their dividends to close some stations.
They've lately discontinued their ferry-boat service at North Woolwich. Their employees wages are also to be reduced. Commodities, rents, etc. are by no means any cheaper - rates taxes, even water rate are higher than they've ever been before. Yet certain papers tell us there is a marked improvement in trade - that may be but can't see any signs of it. At Reyrolles' work, they're still very slack - those immense shipyards where they built last year that famous ship 'Mauritania' giving then employment to 3000 men are almost deserted. Alice was telling me of the sufferings and privations those Hebburn people had to go through last winter.
Am glad Joe is recovering from his long illness - a severe attack of rheumatism in his feet that has caused the arch of his feet to bear down considerably leaving him flat-footed. Doctor attending advised him to wear high steel springs inside his boots. They were at first a torture to him, but being more and more used to them, doesn't now feel any great inconvenience. Am afraid it is as you said - want of care - nay tis more, entirely disregarding the inexorable laws of Nature and now is suffering from transgressing them years and years ago!
I sincerely pity him the more as he has since completely rehabilitated himself. He is now so steady - a good husband, a loving father and quite devoted to his work.By the way you'd be surprised to see his home. An immense flat on first floor - the place kept scrupulously clean - flowers adorn his table all the year round. On his window sills are always a display of most beautiful growing flowers - Alice taking greatest care of them. I'll never forget the happy days I spent there last year but having had so many troubles and expenses couldn't see her way for inviting me again to spend another delightful fortnight with them.
A remarkable thing, Eugenie is actually performing at Newcastle's Palace Theatre. No doubt she is going to pay them a flying visit ( only 5d there and back by steamboat).
Seen Arthur at Whitsun - pretty well but complains of scarcity of work - still at his old place Barking - Will I haven't seen since last Xmas. Heard from the the collector for Edmonton Union that 'he had been in the wars'. Couldn't make out what he meant at first, so got a local paper from which I took a copy that I am enclosing and you'll see what it is about. Trust he won't meet often with experiences like that. In conclusion, dear Jim, offer you very best wishes for your health, welfare etc. Best love to dear Eunice and children.
Your affectionate father
Ch Nicod.
with many kisses to the little ones.
End of this month, they're to issue at Post Offices forms to be filled up by would be pensioners. From official estimate, 70000 are entitled in London alone. Well let us watch and wait!
