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(7) by
Jeannette Oatley
I'd like
to tell you about my grandfather William
Stanley and three other members of my
family.
My
grandfather was born in Shadwell in l876.
He began as a watchmaker but some time
early in the l900's he commenced work with
J. Lyons when they set up their tea
department. He started with a horse and
cart and then proceeded to vans. He was
away from the firm during WW1 when he was
called up at the age of 40. He was in the
Artillery and served at Ypres and
Passchendale. He was badly gassed and sent
home to recuperate. He was lucky that he
did survive. He then returned to J. Lyons
where he remained for the rest of his
working life until his final illness and
death in December of l949.
His eldest
daughter, my mother, Ethel Stanley worked
as a Nippy at one of Lyon's cornerhouses.
Unfortunately I cannot remember which one.
I do remember that she told me her
supervisor was very strict and the
uniform, shoes and stockings had to be
just so. J. Lyons was also responsible for
her "change" of name. She had always
disliked the name Ethel. When she worked
for Lyons I believe that they were called
Sallys. Sally she became from the day
onward. Her husband, when he first met
her, assumed her name WAS Sally. Apart
from her parents and brothers who always
called her Ethel, she was called Sally
until the time she died in December of
l981.
His eldest
son, William Frederick Stanley also worked
for Lyons as a Tea Salesman up until WW2
when he enlisted in the Merchant Marine.
His name is listed in the magazine Lyons
Pie. After the war he did not return to
Lyons but took up a life at
sea.
His
youngest son, Alan Andrew Stanley
commenced work for Lyons as a very young
man and spent all his working life with
the firm.
So the
whole family of four were connected with
Lyons and were very proud of the fact and
I am very proud of them.
©
Jeannette
Oatley 2002
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