My grandfather Charles Henry Powell worked at Allen West.

My father Herbert Maurice Martin also worked at Allen West - an electrical firm. He also ran in their sports team. I have photos of colleagues of his. I think he may have left just before the above photo.

My grandad, Albert Jeater, worked for Allen West - they made electrical switch gear for all sorts of things. I once saw an Allen West piece of machinery on a wall in the Speights Brewery in Dunedin, New Zealand!

My wife´s grandad worked at Allen West. His name was Bob Roberts and lived in Southampton St, Brighton. He was the toolfitter and started there in 1954. When I was going out with my wife in 1970, he was always repairing something or down his allotment by the race course growing vegetables.

My late father in law Eddie worked at Allen West for 38 years until his retirement in 1986. I came across switch gear at a tea plantation in Cameron Highlands Malaysia.

I was an electrical apprentice at A Ws, my first job after leaving school in 1957. Whilst wonderful quality heavy duty products (especially for The Steel Company of South Wales) were being manufactured, a handful of employees also found the time and facilities ideal for making small individual items for themselves. I recall motorcycle parts being chromium plated, car wheels sprayed, fishing weights moulded and lots of other things being done during working hours that really shouldn't have been. A manager even had some of us working on fittings for his sailing boat.
Although I was only there a short while, in that time I grew up to appreciate that a few adults could also have failings and my time at A Ws became further education in every sense of the word.

My father Harold Collins is 4th from left behind the crouching man; sadly he passed away in 2007. Unfortunately I do not know what he actually did at that time but he left shortly after to join the RAF and returned after the war to carry on electrical testing.

I was just checking the spelling of Allen West when I saw your photo. I was an apprentice at AW from 1961 to 1965, and came back after university to work on industrial electronics, especially control systems for large dockside and Freightliner cranes (eg 400 HP hoist motor).  I would guess the photo was taken in the Lewes Road works (which has now been razed to the ground and forms one of the car parks for Brighton Uni) - opposite the old parade ground (now B&Q etc). And I would guess the men shown were working hard on war orders, including much equipment for the Admiralty. All motors above about 1/3 hp ideally need a 'starter' which protects the motor in case of overload, and the user in case of power failure/re-start. Larger motors rated at 000s HP need much more expensive and complex starting gear, and AW used to boast that no motor was ever too big for them to control. AW also made complete control systems involving lots of motors and valves, eg for powering a gold mine, with big control panels like you see in old industrial movies.
When I worked at AW, the main factory was half way up Moulescombe Way (where Booker Cash and Carry now is). The firm employed about 3000 workers and vied with Creeds in Hollingbury (made teleprinters, or was it cash machines?) as being the biggest employer in Brighton.
And now they are no more, though I'm sure there is a rump company carrying on with some of the old name. I suppose their trouble was an inability to move quickly with the times. OK, our crane controls were really ground breaking technology at the time, but they needed back up and investment and, when the rest of the company is struggling a bit, and overstretched on its building programme, then something has to give.
They were a great firm to work for, and I still keep up with about 8 fellow apprentices from 1958 and subsequently.

To Roy Grant - Hi Roy. Can you remember George Webb from Newick Road, North Moulsecoomb? He was a worker at A Ws living next door to me and told tales of many cigarette lighters being made out of emptied bullet cases after the bullets had been scrounged from the soldiers in Stanmer Park. I had one of the lighters. Well made and efficient!

Can anyone remember my father, Patrick Dowds? He sadly passed away in 1995, but worked there for many yrs; my mum Eileen Dowds also worked there, she sadly passed away Christmas eve 2008.

My Father (George Chaplin) worked at Allen West for some years during 1940s - 1960s. He was deeply involved in the Trade Union movement (Amalgamated Engineering Union) and was shop-steward in 108 Machine shop for many years.

Bridget - I remember your Mum & Dad and your brothers Pat & Tom. I remember you being born as I was a neighbour. I also worked at Allen West working for John Roberts in accounts.

I worked at Allen West in 1970. I was working making switches which were assembled on large thick paxollin panels. The connections were made of thick copper tubing, and I am sure they were used for the QE2, on the turbo engines.

The company is still going now called Allenwest Brighton. It is at Peacehaven and has ten workers still making control panels.

My father Robert 'Bob' Barker started work with Allen West in 1938 and finally retired 40 plus years later in a managerial position. I don't know what his exact title was and can no longer ask him as he passed away on 3/9/09. My grandfather Robert Ryder and uncle Joe Ryder worked in the machine shop. My brother Robert Barker worked in the post room and assembling catalogues. You could say a family loyalty to AW. If anyone has any other information about my family members I'd love to hear about them.

To Mike Wooldridge: I think I remember you from Harrington Road Hostel. I remember some of the names starting with John Smith, Bob Baldwin, Mike Curry (Irish student apprentice), Franz (the German guy), Ginger Woodcote, Roy Bowles, Chris Pelham and his mate Dave, and then there was Cannaugh the apprentice training instructor plus he ran the hostel with his wife. Allen West I hear is no more but the writing was on the wall years ago when they tried to do logic systems sort of plc. I think when I started in 1961 there were 4,500 people working there. 3000 at Moulscome Way and the rest at Lewes Road. The pic above is definitely the Lewes Road section.

Hello bridget. I used to live in Staplefield Drive near your family and was a good friend of your mum Eileen and Tom and Pat. I was very sad to here about your mum and dad. Are you still living at Moulsecoomb?

Re: the Allen West photo and believe I know the dark haired man back row and fourth from the right. Would anyone know if it was Eric Sturgess? He would know me, I am Ken Burt. I worked for many years for A.W. in 108 machine shop on Radial Drills then in the Automatics shop. Leaving early in 1971 to come to Australia.

What year did A.W. finally close down?

To: Ken Burt, Allenwest Brighton Ltd, the MBO in March 2007 has NOT closed down. This was despite the best efforts of Les Kerisson, the chairman up to the MBO date, and his changing of the registered compny and trading names (and transferring the staff) from Allenwest Electrical to Allenwest Systems or Allenwest Standard Products and then to Allenwest Ltd. During his chairmanship, suppliers were not paid and during the period of trading under the registered name of Allenwest Ltd, neither were the staff. We are moving Allenest Brighton Ltd back to Brighton and will be based at Unit 3 Hughes Road from 1st September 2010.

My grandfather, Herbert Alan Jeffries moved down from London to be a foreman at the newly opened branch in 1910. He's third from left in the cloth cap.

My mistake: Grandfather's name was Frederick Alan Jeffries (my father was Herbert!) who eventually opened Jeffries 'sweet and tobacco' shop, South Road, Haywards Heath.

I was "Sister" in the Medical Center, Moulscoomb in 1953. Great experience! Cycled from Sackville Road. Last minute dash to "beat the hooter". Amazed by ladies working on drills (piecework) flying in and out to get fingers taped. Anybody remember George Brown (?dept), Les Voice (Test)or welders who came for eyedrops at the end of shift? Think my bike and later Vespa were well maintained. Thanks to you all! Amused to think we took 100pk cigs to people off sick, long term, (maybe not funny now, but am sure "factory humour" can cope). Am 83 now, but cherish the memories of my first job in the real world away from hospital. Thank you.

Hello to all subscribers. I started at AW in 1942 as an Office Boy in the then Sales office, Managered by Mr John Hall. After promotion to Junior Salesman & Service in the RAF, I returned to AW to a short while in 27 Assy. Lewes Road, then changed to a Junior Draughtsman in Sections under Messrs Jimmy James, Freddy Pearson, 'Bottles' Russell & ended up before early retirement, with Tony Jarvis in Design Dept in Moulscoombe. I knew many of the people mentioned previously, & many more, somewhere I have a compiled list of their names, so I will find this & add these to my comments at a later date. Best regards to all past & present AW's.

Hi Jean, Thank you for the reply. I now live in Swindon, been there for 9 years. I still don't remember you, are you on facebook? Love to hear from you. I am now 44 years old and with 2 girls. I really do miss my mum so much. I wouldn't move back to Brighton, too many memories. Though I do love Brighton.

Hi Bridget, glad to hear you are well. I  never knew you but knew your Mum and Dad well as well as Tommy Patrick and the little Margaret and John. I lived at No 14 just along from you but I left Brighton before you were born. So I never saw you. I'm not on facebook but my hubby is. I hope to hear from you.

Hi Bridget. thanks for your reply. I left Brighton before you where born but knew your family well. iIved at no 14. I used to go shopping with your mum- we had some good laughs as well. I hope you are keeping well, love to all your family.

Bridget: it's me Jean - this is my email address: ...mickmaratty@yahoo.co.uk ...

Hi, wondered if anyone can help? My dad Michael Hall who used to work at Allen West from 1955-1962 approximately would like to find his best mate Danny/Tony Green. He had a wife called June and a daughter. Would appreciate any help. Thanks.

My grandfather Patrick Downes worked at Allen West in the fifties. I believe he was a french polisher - not sure where that fits in.

Does anyone remember my grandad? He was David Eric Smith but was always known as Rober.! He sadly passed away in 1992 but I'm sure he worked at AW during the war years and for many more after. He was in stores/supplies which we always found funny as kids since his shed was also arranged by Bin Numbers. His wife, Doreen (Dolly) recently passed away and I'm trying to get a bit of social history for my family tree. Thanks all

Does anyone remember my grandfather, Stan Foulkes, who was a draughtsman at Allen West for many years? I went into the company as an apprentice in 1956 and worked in No 68 Maintenance Dept in Lewes Road until 1962. My grandfather wished me to join the company but, unhappily, passed away just before I started there. Looking back it was one of the happiest times of my life.

I worked at Allen West between 1970-80. I started as a trainee and worked in various departments until I finished up in the variable speed drive section. I knew a lot of the people mentioned above. Eric and Glad Sturgess both worked in 210 assembly. They lived at Lewes and, sadly, are both deceased now. Bob Barker was manager of the marketing section.

Both my parents worked at AW. My dad, George Elliott, and my mum Veronica (Mona) Pickett. Think she worked with her friend Liz Shipham, both from Moulsecoomb Way. Mum worked in the offices in the early 60s I think, and Dad in the Lecky bit. If anyone remembers the Christmas parties held there, my dad was responsible for the different coloured strip lights.

HI Jean, sorry for slow reply. Please could you tell me your last name. Thank you.

Hi Bridget. My last name is Maratty, before that it was Funnel. I use this email mickmaratty@yahoo.co.uk it's my husband's.

I worked at Allen West from 1956 to 1995, starting as an apprentice and then in 1961 as a draughtsman. I recognise several faces in the photo as follows. Tom Smith, 2nd left in the front row with a beer in his hand? Ken Tuppen, 2nd right in the back row and possibly Cyril Muxlow to his left. Good to hear from you Dicky Divall. I too have lots of lists. It was me who suggested the name Allen West on the front of Brighton bus number 616. A picture and a brief article appear on Brighton And Hove buses web site.

I worked from 1935 to 1962 in the filing dept - estimating. Married a Canadian soldier in 1942 and went to Canada in 1945, was reunited with husband. Remember me? Would love to hear from someone. My email address is pphillips5@shaw.ca

It was announced in the Argus (30/7/2011) that Len Williams passed away this week. Most of us will remember 'Taffy' the voice from the valleys. He was in 240 assembly for years. He was active in the Labour party and was a councillor for years in Pier ward near where I now live.

I am sorry to hear about Eric Sturgess dying, mind you he was a little older than me and I am no youngster. I have a photo of him and his brother Cyril taken in a group when we were all boys and they then lived in Bentham Road.

To Peter Guy: Peter Muxlow here, eldest son of Cyril Muxlow and yes, that is Dad in the photo. He passed away about eleven years ago now. We emigrated to Australia in '65 and Dad continued to work as an electrical engineering draughtsman until he retired. My wife was looking for old pics of him to help me compile some of his exploits in the RAF's Coastal Command, 202 Squadron that I'm writing now. I have found two pictures associated with Catalinas that look a lot like him hence Tina looking for old photos. I'm a bit confused as that photo says 1942 but I thought he was in the RAF then. He certainly was in '44-'45, so he must have left AW and then returned after the war. I'm almost fifty nine now, much older than Dad in that photo. Thanks for sharing;  amazing thing, the internet!