Posted 10-12-17
Jean Cann Visits the Bradman Lake Factory
In
April
2017
we
invited
Jean
Cann
and
her
family
to
the
Bradman
Lake
/
Autowrappers
factory
in
Beccles
Suffolk,
Jean
is
the
daughter
of
Charles
(Bill)
Maddison
the
founder
of
Autowrappers,
we
had
a
great
day
discussing
how
Auto-wrappers
was
started
by
her
father
and
sharing
stories
on
the
history
of
the
company,
Jean
told
us
how
her
father
came
to
Norwich
leaving
the
family
behind
in
Halifax,
he
set
up
the
company
on
his
own
in
a
bombed
out
building
in
Edward
St
and
during
the
difficult
first
year,
slept
on
a
camp
bed
in
the
corner
of
the
workshop,
she
told
us
that
later
when
the
family
were
reunited
in
Norwich
her
father
would
design
machines
at
home,
not
on
a
draftsman
board
but
using
sheets
of
paper
laid
out
on
a
snooker
table
in
a
room
that
was
constantly
hazey
from
Bills
love
of
cigars.
Jean
brought
us
some
more
photographs
of
the
Autowrappers
1958 dinner dance that will be posted on the site shortly.
After
spending
most
of
the
day
talking
about
the
history
of
the
company
we
introduced
Jean
and
her
family
to
Sean
Underwood
(
Bradman
Lake
Beccles
factory
manager
)
he
then
gave
them
a
tour
of
the
Bradman
Lake
factory,
showing
them
some
of
the
old
Super
2000
machines
that
were
based
on
her
fathers
design,
these
had
come
back
for
refurbishment.
they
were
pleased
to
know
that
we
still
currently
produce
new
S2000
machines,
we
also
showed
them
how
the
Autowrappers
name
is
still
used
as
a
brand
name
on
our
current
range
of
flow
wrappers
and
other
equipment
and
then
they
had
a
exclusive
demonstration
of
the
new
Compact
vision
system
pick
and
place
loader,
flow-wrapper,
cartoner
and
case
packer
that
was
being shipped to the USA for an exhibition.
The Photo below shows Jean and the family looking though the Auto-wrappers history folders in the boardroom at Bradman
Lake Beccles.
Left to Right: Karl Dawson ( AW website ) Russel Cann, Jean Cann, Richard Cann, Alex Budd
Photo Ref: AW0728 Courtesy of Jean Cann
The Photo below shows Jean and the family in discussion with Sean Underwood ( BL factory manager ) on modern
day packaging technology in comparison to the technology that her father developed.
Jean and family with Paul Holmes
(
AW website,
second from right )
and ( far right ) Sean Underwood.
Photo Ref: AW0728 Courtesy of Jean Cann
A Follow up Email From Jean Cann
Posted 12-12-17
Hello Paul
It
has
been
a
real
pleasure
to
read
your
latest
chapter
about
AW.
The
names
of
some
of
the
contributors
came
flooding
back
to
me.
It
certainly
gave
me
a
real
sense
of
pride
to
read
just
how
much
my
father
had
achieved
not
only
in
the
wrapping
machinery
field
but
also
for
creating
a
company
of which
old-time
apprentices speak
so
fondly.
They
clearly
enjoyed
their
time
with
the
company.
I
was
particularly
interested
in
the
article
by
Rod
Horne
who
overlapped
with
me
when
he
joined
in
1958.
Like
him,
I
remember
the
foremen
who
held
authority with
Reg
Maddison, my uncle, They were, as Rod says, Jack Robinson and Bert Goodings but also Ken Mirams.
I
can't
help
admiring
Ivan
Mortimer's
story!
How
someone
who
was
almost
blind
could
learn
to
operate
a
lathe
is
beyond
me.
And
I
enjoyed
his
story
about
persuading
a
later
employer
to
buy
his
old
AW
lathe.
What
an
engaging
story it is.
I wish all of you at the Beccles factory a very happy Christmas. You've made my year!
Sincerely
Jean Cann