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Horne Engineering recently enjoyed the pleasure of a surprise visit when ex-employee, Maurice Smiley, presented at the despatch door with his carer Jack, fully 74 years since he first entered the factory in Pitt St., Glasgow, at the age of 14.
Pictured from left to right: carer Jack, Maurice and Horne's Managing Director, Angus Horne.
Maurice is currently resident at The Erskine Home for ex-servicemen in Bishopton and on the day of his visit had intended to be playing dominoes at the Lancefield nursing home next door to our factory.
Maurice’s first job with HORNE was to convey finished valves from Pitt St., along Argyle St., to Glasgow’s Central rail station on a hand-barrow from where they were sent all over the United Kingdom and beyond.
Maurice’s working life with the company was soon interrupted by service in the second World War that culminated in a year spent as a Prisoner of War in Stalag XI-B. After liberation and return to the UK Maurice spent time in the Military Police. Following his military service Maurice returned to work for the company and became a skilled machine operator.
During his visit, Maurice and Jack were shown around the factory with Maurice immediately identifying a machined 50mm TMV body that triggered an impressively accurate recollection of his time in the machine-shop. Maurice thoroughly enjoyed his visit commenting “that was much better than playing dominoes!”.