This fantastic photo from 1970 was shared by my friend, Alex Rochead, who told me, “When I left school I started an apprenticeship with the Belmos in the High Blantyre Industrial Estate. It lasted from 1966 to 1970 and it was a normal part of the training to spend time in all the departments in the factory. I have attached a photo of myself with fellow apprentices. I am on the second row left hand side.”
Alex continued, “The leaders of the training school are sitting on the front row. I think they all needed a seat after trying to train the company’s future workers. From left to right we have David Mercer, Nathanial McDowall, not sure of the lady’s name, then perhaps A W Dawson and Roger McCloy. I first attended the Burnbank Tech Collage for day release before it closed then attended Motherwell Tech.”
At this time it was known as Belmos Peebles, it’s name changed at various times and when it closed in 1986/87 it had become Reyrolle Belmos. It manufactured 440 volt electrical control equipment for industry and the coal board. The company had it’s first factory in the Bellshill and Mossend area and took it’s name from the two towns and became Belmos.
The company was known for employing families. It could be your father, brother, son, auntie, cousin all working in different areas of the factory. At one time it was part of the Northern Electrical Industries (NEI group). They provided 440 control equipment for four power stations. Inverkip (long gone), Peterhead, Kilroot in Northern Island and Torness.
I think Belmos was one of the first major companies to arrive in the Industrial Estate, perhaps there as early as the late 1940’s. In 1978, a large strike saw more than 500 people take part. By the end of August 1978, with the strike in its third week, no end seemed to be in sight. The strike also hit workers at factories of the same name in Bothwell and Glasgow. The strike had started due to disputes with managers over working conditions. 150 people from Blantyre were affected by that strike, which happened at the same time as Blantyre miners were striking at Cardowan Colliery. It was eventually settled in the first week in September 1978 after 3 weeks.
Did YOU or anybody you know work in Belmos? Thanks again to Alex for sharing.