Employees

The Duke of Edinburgh with in the rear L S Lebus, to his left Sir Herman Lebus and to his right Stanley Bright zone manager

The Duke of Edinburgh with in the rear L S Lebus, to his left Sir Herman Lebus and to his right Stanley Bright zone manager

In the foreground ? Oliver Lebus and wife, Kenneth Scott and wife and Stanley bright and wife

In the foreground – Oliver Lebus and wife, Kenneth Scott and wife and Stanley bright and wife



Kenneth Scott worked at Lebus from leaving school until the late 1960s. His final position was as manager of the machine shop having taken over from Stanley Bright

Kenneth Scott worked at Lebus from leaving school until the late 1960s. His final position was as manager of the machine shop having taken over from Stanley Bright

L S Lebus presenting Pat Brignell with his gold watch for 40 years service. 1924 ? 1964

L S Lebus presenting Pat Brignell with his gold watch for 40 years service. 1924 – 1964




Pat Brignell to the far left, on the right hand side standing with glasses is William Butler. Albert Church in the foreground

Pat Brignell to the far left, on the right hand side standing with glasses is William Butler. Albert Church in the foreground

Dinner dance March 1954 ? Pat and Majorie Brignell on the right

Dinner dance March 1954 – Pat and Majorie Brignell on the right



Raymond Lamb

Raymond Lamb





Harris Lebus Singers, the second person on the bottom righthand side is Jean Cox

Harris Lebus Singers, the second person on the bottom righthand side is Jean Cox


Justine Causer

Justine Causer

Lebus employees ? date unknown

Lebus employees – date unknown

Eileen Noble ? Staff wages supervisor

Eileen Noble – Staff wages supervisor

Oliver Lebus presenting Arthur King with his gold watch for 40 years service. 1926 ? 1966

Oliver Lebus presenting Arthur King with his gold watch for 40 years service. 1926 – 1966

Barber shop at the Lebus factory - 1950

Barber shop at the Lebus factory – 1950

Lebus day trip to Southend in the early 1950s. Violet Thurley amongst the group in the front row wearing a black bow

Lebus day trip to Southend in the early 1950s. Violet Thurley amongst the group in the front row wearing a black bow

Violet Thurley behind on the far left worked as a sprayer in the late 1940s to the early 1950s. This photo was possibly taken at a Lebus dance

Violet Thurley behind on the far left worked as a sprayer in the late 1940s to the early 1950s. This photo was possibly taken at a Lebus dance

Lebus switchboard operators 1968 ? Pat Bailey and Freda Halberg

Lebus switchboard operators 1968 – Pat Bailey and Freda Halberg





Lebus offices, 1968

Lebus offices, 1968

Stan Robshaw in the middle with Ernie Worman to his right

Stan Robshaw in the middle with Ernie Worman to his right

Dinner and dance, Ernie Worman on the left

Dinner and dance, Ernie Worman on the left

The Wormans

The Wormans



Oliver Lebus presenting Albert Sullivan with his gold watch for 40 years service. 1923 - 1962

Oliver Lebus presenting Albert Sullivan with his gold watch for 40 years service. 1923 – 1962

Albert Sullivan sitting in the black pin stripe suit, front row right hand side end

Albert Sullivan sitting in the black pin stripe suit, front row right hand side end

Albert Church

Albert Church




Albert Church ? article from the ?Lebus Log’ ? December 1962

Albert Church – article from the Lebus Log December 1962


Fantastic carvings of leaves by Albert Church

Fantastic carvings of leaves by Albert Church

Fantastic carvings of leaves by Albert Church

Fantastic carvings of leaves by Albert Church

Fantastic carvings of leaves by Albert Church

Fantastic carvings of leaves by Albert Church

Fantastic carvings of leaves by Albert Church

Fantastic carvings of leaves by Albert Church

Timber field annual outing 1953

Party nights at the pavilion – 1950s

Lebus summer outing to Southend circa 1947/8

Harris Lebus Choir on Come Dancing

Harris Lebus FC

Harris Lebus FC pre WWI

Harris Lebus FC pre WWI

Harris Lebus FC pre WWI

Harris Lebus FC pre WWI

Harris Lebus FC late 1940s

Harris Lebus FC late 1940s

Harris Lebus FC late 1940s

Harris Lebus FC late 1940s

Harris Lebus FC late 1940s

Harris Lebus FC late 1940s

Harris Lebus FC at the Hayes ground late 1940s

Harris Lebus FC at the Hayes ground late 1940s

Harris Lebus FC reserve team late 1940s or early 1950s

Harris Lebus FC reserve team late 1940s or early 1950s

Pando football club with manager Pat Brignell ? bottom right kneeling

Pando football club with manager Pat Brignell – bottom right kneeling

Watches presented to employees for long and loyal service

Example of a Gold watch presented to Lebus employees after many years of service

Example of a Gold watch presented to Lebus employees after many years of service

This one was presented to Mr E A Huggett for long and loyal service

This one was presented to Mr E A Huggett for long and loyal service

Another example

Another example



This one was presented to Mr P J Brignell for long and loyal service

This one was presented to Mr P J Brignell for long and loyal service

Another example

Another example


This one was presented to Mr W G Butler for long and loyal service

This one was presented to Mr W G Butler for long and loyal service

Watch case

Watch case


Watch case inside

Watch case inside


Another example

Another example


This one was presented to Mr A R Sullivan long and loyal service

This one was presented to Mr A R Sullivan long and loyal service

Another example

Another example


Watch presented to Mr A A King for long and loyal service

Watch presented to Mr A A King for long and loyal service

18 thoughts on “Employees

  1. Nancy Hiller says:

    These are fantastic! I especially love the newspaper clipping of Justine Causer. Could it be any less politically correct?!

  2. Graham Cole says:

    If you look at the character on the far left side of the attendees pctured in the photo entitled Dinner dance 1954, I believe that to be Anthony Lebus younger brother to Oliver, any one who can confirm??
    The grey haired person in the centre of the same picture eludes me, at first I thought it could be the personnel manager named Lamb, but have my doubts. Again can any one enlighten me.

    • Jenny Lebus says:

      It certainly looks like Anthony (my father-in-law). I’ll get my husband (Richard) to confirm when he gets in!

    • Jean Cox says:

      I think you are right about Mr Lamb, I worked for him and Mr Moon in the Personnal Office.
      Jean Cox

      • Graham Cole says:

        Thank you jean on the confirmation about Mr Lamb.
        My memories of Mr Moon was when he used to take my mother and myself to the Nufto Convalescence home in Seaford to see my father Albert Cole .

        Graham Cole

  3. Peter Lebus says:

    a small correction – in the picture above, it is my father L S Lebus who is presenting the watch to Pat Brignell, not Sir Herman.

  4. John Williams says:

    Right at the top of the list of guests at the Lebus birthday party is the name of Arthur Church, who had served the company for 55 years. I can remember Mr Church in the late 1950s/early 60s when he was president of th Jigofferees concert party for which my late father Jack Williams was stage manager. My mother, who died last year had a pair of carved dishes in the shape of leaves, which were made by Mr Church, a master woodcarver and true craftsman. They are now in my possession.

  5. Graham Cole says:

    I have a collection of Mr Church’s carvings of leaves , I thought his name was Albert though, can anyone confirm?

    When I knew Mr Church in the early 1960’s I was under the impression that he was in his 80’s and at that time worked the jig department doing specials.

    I used to attend the Jigofferies outings each year to such places as Margate,Cliftonville, Clacton etc which culminated in formal dinner, after dinner speeches and joke tellings, awesome for any young person selected.!

    • Howard Slater says:

      Yes , you are correct he was Albert Church. A real gentlemen , he was almost Edwardian in his dress.

      His work bench in T 1, the jig and sample shop, was always tidy with a full set of carvers tools laid out neatly on a layer of Green felt.

      At one time I worked about 20 Ft. from him( in old money).

      I also have a carved leaf .

      He did produce specials that required his excellent carving skills. He also carved the originals from which metal stamping press tools were made. These were in turn used to press decoration onto ply members of furniture doors, drawer fronts etc.

      I too remember trips with the Jigofferees , in particular to the Severn Sisters pub in Seaford. Entertainment included the Bracken brothers, Sid and Alf.

      Howard Slater

      • John Williams says:

        You are correct his name was Albert. As a young lad in much more respectful times, I was only allowed to refer to him as Mr Church. My dad Jack was very friendly with the Bracken brothers (Fred’s son Tony once came on holiday with us to Jersey). Other names I recall were Charlie Chapman, who played the piano, Jack Gunnell, Wally Baker, who was a childhood friend of my mum’s, and a man called ‘Gee’. Also there was a lady singer called Eileen Cummings.

  6. Katie Rostgaard says:

    My grandfather, Cyril Rostgaard, worked as a chief designer at Lebus for many years. I have hundreds of his drawings, and photographs of his design office, the factory, trade show visits all around the world and of the furniture. I also have pictures of the dolls house he designed for Prince Charles and Princess Anne, and photographs of him with the Duke of Edinburgh. I’d love to share them with you.

    • Graham Cole says:

      As a young engineer part of my duties were to draw the handles on tracing paper in the design development department and I knew your grandfather who was the senior designer .
      The office was on the first floor and identified as KL 1st next to the makers department where they made the mock ups of the designs of your grandfather . They were then displayed to the management for approval.
      I remember him as a flamboyant man well dressed and polite , hope that matches your memories.

  7. Jacqui Hind says:

    The lady behind the conductor in the Harris Lebus singers photograph is my mother Gladys Hopkins. She was a comptometer operator (1947-1956 approx).

    • Laurie Wilson says:

      I read your email with interest as I was employed by Harris Lebus to work in 22 shop from 1946 until 1949 when I was conscrioted into the army in 1949.

      After leaving the army in 1951 one of my jobs was working for Felt and Tarrent (Comptometer), until 1976 after 20 years, I hope that you find this interesting!

  8. Malcolm Dale says:

    My grandfather, Pinchas Starkman, worked for Harris Lebus when he came to England from Belarus in 1900. He earned seven shillings a week and had a wife and child (later 5 children)

  9. R lear says:

    My Mum GERTRUDE Somers worked for lebus in the 1930s . Sadly she passed away in 1973. She was an upholsterer, brilliant seamstress. She moved to Devon when the blitz started.

  10. Pat Dore says:

    My father worked at lebus from the age of 15 until he died aged 55 in 1963,Charles Millbank, think he was manager of the mill.

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