Comments on: Jimmy Keane, Caretaker

By: Sue Reynolds

Sue Reynolds — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 16:25:09 +0000

My dad and his brothers worked there. My grandad was the groundsman at their sportsground in Walthamstow when he retired. Did anyone go to the children’s Xmas parties? I went in 1957 when I was my family name was Kibby.

By: Julie Street

Julie Street — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 17:20:39 +0000

My nan (now 96) used to work at the BDV (Best Dark Virginia) from the age of 14 until 1941 when she was 18. She then left and moved to Weston Super Mare.

By: Philip Jackson

Philip Jackson — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 14:08:15 +0000

Stumbled across this article – co-incidentally, my parents actually met each other while working at Godfrey Phillips, in about 1946! The lettering on the building reminded me of the stories they would tell. The BDV used to feature in these stories – does anyone know what it is?

By: Francis van Emden

Francis van Emden — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 16:10:05 +0000

During the second world war ( I was eight when it began in September 1939) the basement of the Godfrey Phillips building served as an air-raid shelter. As far as I understood it was available to the families of the factory’s employees. At that time I had an uncle who worked in the factory and so we were able to use the shelter as and when needed. I had been evacuated to East Anglia just before war was declared but once the blitz was over we returned home to
Fleur de lys St. Bombings by then were more sporadic and so the use of the shelter varied. At times we would go into the shelter in the early evening and leave the following morning. On other occasions we would be in bed at home when it found advisable to go to the shelter and we would make a dash for it – a distance of something like 200-250- yards. Shelter was equipped with bunks and we had to bring our own bedding. The younger children like myself very often had a jolly game of hide-and-seek before going to bed.

By: Michael Holman

Michael Holman — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 11:26:54 +0000

Good morning, my name is Michael Holman , My Great Grandfather was Mr Godley Philips personal chauffeur, His name was Thomas Edwin Morton .

I have a letter addressed to him around early 1931, written by his son, thanking my Great Grandfather for his service, and for this he was awarded a £50 Cheque .

Have you any Information, or know where I can obtain any , about my Great Grandfather Mortons service with the company

Kind regards Michael Holman …

By: Yvonne Fenter

Yvonne Fenter — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 21:02:32 +0000

I love your photo of the old Godfrey Phillips fascia on the building. My grandfather, Daniel Godfrey Larter, worked at Godfrey Phillips from 1914 to 1951, and the article about his retirement in the staff magazine refers to him being “one of the best known people among the office staff at 112”.

By: Elizabeth Griffin

Elizabeth Griffin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:57:44 +0000

Hi,

I was just wondering whether you still had a telephone number or any details which I might be able to get hold of Jimmy Keane. I’m currently a student at Queen Mary, University of London and the great great great grand-daughter of Godfrey Phillips who founded the company and who I am focusing my dissertation on. I was hoping to be able to speak to him to see if he had any more information about the building and who he was working for when it was still a factory.

I’d very much appreciate any information you could provide me with!

Thanks,

Elizabeth

By: Rowena

Rowena — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:03:11 +0000

Would love to see that Dazed and Confused fashion shoot featuring Mr Keane.

Are you able to track it down and feature it on your blog?

Very interesting post. Love to hear how the area has changed over the years.