Metal Box played big part in the city’s economy
The Metal Box cricket team from the 1960s which own the the Lord Mayor's Knockout Trophy
This is the Metal Box factory cricket team which won the Interfirms’ Trophy and semi-final of the lord mayor’s tournament in the 1960s.
It comes from Tony Jennings, who worked for the firm at Burrfields Road, Copnor, Portsmouth, for 21 years.
Metal Box was one of the largest employers in the city and Tony recalls the firm bought the factory in 1952 and started producing polythene film and laminations for products such as Walls/Danish bacon.
Tony, of Hazel Grove, Locks Heath, adds: ‘In the 1950s 200 people worked there and it grew to 3,000 with the building of a plastic bottle factory.
‘This was the subject of a devastating fire, but was back in production within months.
‘At its peak the factory was the largest user of power in Portsmouth after the Dockyard.’
He said production went on for 168 hours a week ‘but even so the factory represented less than one per cent of the company’s turnover’.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
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MollyWiseman
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 10:18 AMThese are the names that I think I remember, though I think the photo is early sixties and I was only 11-12 years old! Back Row: unknown, Bill Mason, Cyril Marshall, Peter Merewood, unknown, Terry Kenny, umpire Snowy Winkworth Front Row: Tony Jennings, Charlie Mack, Eddie Jupp, Charlie Dore and Ron Cole. We spent many happy hours as childrens on the field at Dundas Lane while dad played
MollyWiseman
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:10 PMHow strange that this photo which includes my lovely dad should be printed on the anniversary of his death. I think this was early 60's and I think I can name all but 2 of those in the photo. Does anyone know who the following are, standing row, far left and standing row, third from the right. My dad's Terry Kenny, back row next to the umpire.
blue bob
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:08 AMI feel that you should be bound to give your reasons for moderation.
blue bob
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:04 PMI don't know why this has been moderated, I used to work at the metal box factory, so I am naturally interested.
blue bob
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:00 PMI recognize Charlie Dore the ex Pompey goalkeeper & Eddie Jupp, would like to know the identities of the others, good old days before Burrfields area was redeveloped, now the site of the shopping park occupied by toys r us , currys, comet etc.
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