Brick Production

Alec was born and raised in Stamford. Both his Father and another member of his family worked for Williamson Cliff, which meant that he, at first had no wish to join the company and work for them. So after completing a university course he went to work for Dunlops in their research centre for about three and a half years and in 1953 he joined Williamson Cliff in the sale and transport side. At that time the firm owned its own transport fleet- (6 ton lorries) as the company delievered as well as making the product. Williamson Cliff made two types of brick- building bricks and refactories- heat resistant bricks used for lining furnaces, particularly in the steel and cement industries. At one time, almost every cement firm in the country was supplied by Williamson Cliff. He says:

"Williamson Cliff is a firm that goes back to 1907 and...so Williamson Cliff was here well before I arrived. I have relations who were involved in Williamson Cliff and my Father was involved in Williamson Cliff so...up to a point there was a family element there you see, and...but I had the feeling the last thing I wanted to do was work in a firm that my Father was in charge of- because well, this is not the sort if independence that one wants to feel, and so erm...I decided to start with- I would look for work elsewhere and found it eventually after university. I went to Dunlops in their research centre and wasn't altogether surprised when Dunlops went to the war- I was there three- two and a half years- I think."