Tag Archives: 1950

1950 : Workers’ Playtime in Smith Meters Canteen

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The BBC’s Home Service radio show Workers’ Playtime was broadcast from the canteen at Smiths Meters in Rowan Road on Friday 6th January 1950. The show was then repeated on the 23rd January.

From the Mitcham News & Mercury, 13th January 1950, page 7

‘Workers Playtime’
In Canteen

Smith Meters Broadcast
To Be Repeated

Employees of Smith Meters works, Rowan-road, Streatham Vale balloted for 70 seats in their canteen on Friday. That, after regular canteen patrons had been accommodated, was the only room available foe the visit of the BBC’s “Workers’ Playtime.” The unlucky ones heard the broadcast on relay.

The limited space provided difficulty also for producer Bill Worsley, for among the artists were the 16-voiced George Mitchell choir as well as Turner Layton and Terry Scott. But everything went smoothly, and director Mr. A. Charles thanked them for the performance.

Works manager Mr. F. W. King added that they had lost a little production time through the broadcast but felt it was well worth it. “We feel it is all for the good of the employees’ morale to have a visit like this.” he said.

A recorded repeat of the broadcast can be heard on the Home Service January 23 (6.20 p.m.- 6.45 p.m.).

A summary of the show can be found at the BBC archive webpage.

1950 : Glebe Estate Flats construction concern

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Mitcham News and Mercury
3rd March, 1950, page 1

Glebe Estate Flats
Scheme “Causing Some Anxiety”

CONCERN at progress on the Glebe Estate where a hundred flats are under construction was expressed by Mitcham’s Housing chairman (Ald. C. A. Norris), at Tuesday’s Council meeting.

“This scheme, ill advised in the first place, seems doomed to failure and is causing us some anxiety,” he said. They hoped the contractor would pull the thing round and give them some units of accommodation.

No-one knew what the rents would be. Figures varying between 45s. to 60s. a week had been mentioned. He hoped there would be enough people on the local housing list willing to pay these high rents.

A report of the Borough Surveyor (Mr. Riley Schofield) states that progress on the site is not satisfactory, but the architect informed him that the position did not warrant the exercise of his power under Clause 19 of the conditions of contract to serve a notice that the contractor was not proceeding with the work with reasonable diligence.

The amount of work had improved considerably during last two months. average weekly value of builders’ work in January including the Christmas holiday was approximately £1,500. The December figure was £1,000 and the highest figure prior this was £900 in August.