Echo A royal visit The Luton factory's WW1 past
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Echo
ISSUE 54 • SPRING 2021
For Electrolux Group Pension Scheme members
A royal visit The Luton factory’s WW1 past Update:
money and pensions news
Welcome... What’s
A warm welcome to the spring issue of Echo. With the inside?
Covid-19 vaccination programme rolling out across
the country heralding the ease of lockdown measures, Scheme noticeboard 3
the prospect for the year is looking brighter. We hope
all our members are staying safe and well. The Luton factory’s
WW1 past 4
In this issue, we have uncovered some of the pre-Electrolux history of
the Luton factory site, which you can read about on page 4, while in Update: money
Blast from the past on page 12, there are some super photos sent in and pensions news 8
by members of a visit to Luton in the 1970s by the King of Sweden.
A blast from
For our deferred members who have yet to take their Scheme pension, the past… 12
it’s never too early to start thinking about your options at retirement.
The Trustee is hoping to bring you more information on this later in the Obituaries 16
year, but we are pleased to announce that financial advice will be
available to members. Read more about this on the opposite page. Your contacts 20
In the winter issue of Echo, we invited members to put themselves forward
for selection as a Member Nominated Director (MND) of the Scheme.
The Trustee is delighted to confirm that Phillip Wilson has been reselected
for a further four-year term of office to February 2025. We are pleased to
retain his knowledge and experience on the board.
2 ECHO Spring 2021
Following the discovery of the
Luton site’s history, we would
love to hear from anyone who
Scheme noticeboard
knows about the history of the Getting advice about your options at retirement
Spennymoor factory, and what As you approach retirement, there is a lot to think about and prepare for.
it may have been used for We want to make sure our members are in a position to make good
before its Electrolux days. financial decisions that are right for their circumstances.
We have selected a professional independent financial adviser called
Origen Financial Services Limited to help you understand your pension
options. This advice is available to members who have not yet taken their
Get in touch
pension from the Scheme.
Please send any contributions for
If you prefer to use your own financial adviser, you can continue to do so,
Echo to: sarah@wordshop.co.uk
but this will be at your own expense.
Write to:
Over the summer, the arrangements with Origen will be finalised and put in
Sarah Marshall (Echo editor)
place, and we will provide more details about how to access the service in
Wordshop
this year’s Annual Review.
7 Tilton Court
Digby Road We hope you will find Origen’s service useful in helping you get ready
Sherborne for retirement.
Dorset DT9 3NL
ECHO Spring 2021 3
The Luton factory’s WW1 past Before Electrolux acquired the Luton factory in 1927 as part of its rapid international growth, there had been an earlier factory on that site belonging to aircraft manufacturer, Hewlett & Blondeau Ltd, who made planes for the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. How many people working at the Luton factory, using buildings such as the experimental shop, the work study and the industrial engineering office, would have known that these very same buildings were once home to such an important contributor to the WW1 war effort? All images kindly provided by the Luton Culture Trust. 4 ECHO Spring 2021
Hewlett & Blondeau Ltd was the enterprise of a
Frenchman and one very remarkable English woman.
Born in 1864, Hilda Beatrice Hewlett, the daughter of a
Church of England vicar, was an aviator and business
entrepreneur. At a time when the motor car was still in
its infancy and when women were campaigning for the
right to vote, Hewlett was busy studying aeronautics.
Having learned to fly, she became the first British
woman to earn a pilot’s licence in 1911.
ECHO Spring 2021 5
The Luton factory’s WW1 past CONTINUED
She teamed up with aviation engineer, Gustav Blondeau and together, they opened the UK’s first flying
school at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey. Here, Hewlett taught her son to fly, and he went on to have a
distinguished military aviation career and was the first military pilot to have been taught to fly by his mother.
With Blondeau, she went on to establish Hewlett & Blondeau Ltd, a manufacturer of aeroplanes and other
equipment. Hewlett managed the company, which grew quickly. She worked tirelessly. At the factory in
Leagrave, Luton, the company employed almost 700 workers and built more than 800 planes, including the
Farman, Avro, Cauldron and Hanriot aircraft under licence. During the First World War, the company’s output
was principally military aircraft including a specialised 90hp engine, which the British government considered
vital to the war effort.
After the war, the business diversified into farming
equipment, but it did not replicate the success of the
aircraft manufacturing and the factory closed in
October 1920. There were probably many reasons for
this, but it is easy to speculate that maybe farming
equipment simply did not inspire the same passion in
Hewlett as aircraft.
However, in recognition of the importance of the
company’s contribution during the First World War,
a road in Luton was named after Hewlett. You can
find Hewlett Road less than half a mile from the factory,
near Leagrave Station.
6 ECHO Spring 2021
After the factory site was sold in 1926, Hilda Hewlett emigrated to New Zealand with her daughter. There, she hoped to escape what she termed ‘the three Cs’, namely crowds, convention and civilisation. This room was later used by Electrolux as the post room and stationery store. ECHO Spring 2021 7
Update
Money and pensions news
Scams – stay alert
Scams in general are on the increase. Covid-19 has
created opportunities for fraudsters, and scammers
are continuing to target pension pots of all sizes.
If you haven’t yet drawn your Scheme pension and are
facing financial difficulties because of the pandemic,
you may be tempted to cash in some of your pension.
Scammers design attractive offers to persuade you to
transfer your pension to them, where it is:
• invested in unusual and high-risk investments
• check the Financial Conduct Authority’s warning list
• invested in more conventional products but within an
• get impartial advice.
overly complex structure that hides multiple fees and
high charges New regulations to support pension trustees in
• stolen outright. blocking transfers that display pension scam red flags
are expected to come into force in the autumn.
Common pension scams include early pension release
or pension reviews. You should: For more details about pension scams and how to
avoid them, go to: www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/
• reject any unsolicited contact about investments en/pension-scams
8 ECHO Spring 2021
Pension Schemes Act 2021
The long-awaited Pension Schemes Act 2021 received Royal Assent
in February. It covers a wide range of issues, including bringing in
criminal and civil offences for pension funding negligence and
laying the groundwork for pensions dashboards. It was delayed
last year as a result of Covid-19, spending more than a year
awaiting approval.
MoneyHelper is coming soon
This summer, a new service called MoneyHelper is launching. It is the
easy way to get free, trusted help for your money and pension choices.
The Money Advice Service, the Pensions Advisory Service and Pension
Wise will all come under MoneyHelper, bringing everything together in
one place.
MoneyHelper offers free, impartial help that’s quick to find, easy to use and
backed by government. It is available online or over the phone, providing
clear money and pensions guidance, as well as pointers to trusted services,
if you need more support.
In June 2021, MoneyHelper goes live. For money help all in one place
that’s free to use, go to www.moneyhelper.org.uk
ECHO Spring 2021 9
Update CONTINUED Extension of stamp duty break The stamp duty holiday which was introduced last summer has been extended beyond the original deadline of 31 March 2021 for a further three months to 30 June 2021. The tax saving cuts the bill entirely on properties under £500,000 and reduces it on homes costing more than that. After the June deadline, there will be a staggered return to normal rates of stamp duty up until 1 October 2021. 10 ECHO Spring 2021
Decimalisation: 50 years A reminder about the minimum
on and still counting? pension age
It is fifty years since the UK said goodbye to its
As we reported in the last issue of Echo, the
pounds, shillings and pence system and converted
government has confirmed that the minimum age
to a decimal currency in February 1971. Out went 12
at which people can access their personal pension
pennies to a shilling and 20 shillings to a pound and
is to increase from 55 to 57 in 2028. This is in line
in came exciting new coins: the halfpenny, 1p and 2p.
with keeping the minimum pension age at ten years
Today, a different issue about money is emerging, below State pension age. A further increase to State
namely, do we need it at all? With the increasing use pension age to 68 will take place between 2037 and
of the internet for shopping, it is clear that the use of 2039, when the minimum retirement age will rise to
cash is in decline. In 2019, as few as three in 10 age 58 in line with this.
purchases used cash – half what it was just 10 years
earlier. The Royal Mint has even halted the production
of two pence pieces for the next 10 years because of
lack of use. The lockdown measures of the pandemic
year have no doubt done very little to promote the
cause for cash.
However, although the use of cash generally is in
decline, many of the elderly, vulnerable or those in
rural locations still tend to use cash. To support this,
the government has committed to protect access to
cash and sustain the use of cash by businesses.
ECHO Spring 2021 11A blast from the past… Do you remember the in-house magazines? Thank you to Eric Stevens for sending in these copies of What’s Stirring, the in-house magazine for Electrolux Food Service Equipment, of which Eric was group managing director. At that time, Food Service Equipment comprised Crypto Peerless, Stott Benham, Zanussi, Alpeninox and Electrolux commercial service. Eric also served for a time as one of the Scheme’s Trustees. Looking for What’s Cooking? There were a number of magazines which gave everyone in the organisation an insight into the Group’s activities. In addition to the one shown here, there was also a publication called What’s Cooking? which was produced by Stott Benham. Eric couldn’t find a copy of this one, so if anyone has still got a copy, although it would be almost 30 years old by now, it would be interesting to see it. Please send it to the Echo editor, using the contact details on the back page. 12 ECHO Spring 2021
A royal visit
In the early 1970s, the King of Sweden paid a visit to the Luton factory,
where he had a tour and met several members of staff. Thank you to
everyone who sent in photos and memories of the occasion.
We have not been able to discover the reason for this royal visit except
that it may have coincided with a visit to the Queen, and being a Swedish
company, Electrolux might have been included in the itinerary.
David Clements sent in this photo of his late wife, Maureen, who was
working in the vacuum cleaner factory when the King was being shown
round. Her manager, Albert Stone, was among the entourage, and he
called her over and introduced her to the King. She said later she thought
her legs would collapse under her and she couldn’t remember what they
spoke about!
Photos of the King’s visit appeared in the local newspapers and
Maureen’s family were very proud of her. The day after, some people
were calling her the Duchess! Maureen passed away seven years ago
after 52 years of happy marriage with David.
ECHO Spring 2021 13A blast from the past... CONTINUED Mike Green sent in these two photos of the King of Sweden being shown around the refrigerator assembly department by his father, Sid Green (in the white smock), who was senior foreman, and with Mr Neil Dewart, the works director. In the background of the image on the right is the chairman, Lord Luke, and in the background of the other image is the managing director, Mr Stanley Broughton (wearing glasses). Electrolux had a very family-based workforce, fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles and children. Following his father into the company, Mike joined Electrolux in 1959 as an apprentice in the technical department. He was working as the design and development manager when the Leisure Division was closed in December 1995. 14 ECHO Spring 2021
Barbara West sent in these photos of her meeting the
King. On the middle floor, she is showing him the air
guides machine for vacuum cleaners. The King is just
one year older than she is, and Barbara remembers it
well, especially because she had a great deal of
trouble trying to take off her rubber gloves to shake
his hand!
ECHO Spring 2021 15Obituaries We regret to announce the death of the following members. John Ager 96 Luton Marie Campbell 100 Luton John Baber 88 Sherwood Ronald Cantle 93 Luton Thomas Bambrick 87 Luton Mary Claughton 70 Leeds Fred Bardsley 81 Oldham Joan Cleaver 89 Barnstaple Francis Beavan 82 Birmingham Eileen Coles 80 Luton James Beavan 91 Birmingham John Collins 93 Luton Joan Berryman 88 Cambridge Margaret Comer 85 Leominster Helen Boulding 83 Kings Lynn Margaret Corr 88 Luton Donald Bradford 77 Farnham Joan Cottrell 89 Windham Gary Brain 65 Spennymoor Albert Critchfield 85 Denbighshire Eric Brown 87 Plymouth George Crockford 94 Dunstable Elsie Bulmer 89 Driffield Colin Cullwick 88 Solihull Marian Burgess 81 Luton Michael Daley 82 Chelmsford Brian Campbell 72 County Durham Edward Danton 89 Wales 16 ECHO Spring 2021
GIllian Davis 88 Chippenham Steven Frier 69 Oldham
Louisa Denham 94 Spennymoor Thomas Greaves 70 Birmingham
Bryan Donnelly 79 Durham Maurice Ground 91 Grantham
Lloyd Ducasse 84 Birmingham Audrey Hamilton 94 Hitchin
Doris Eales 85 Birmingham Stuart Harker 72 Bishop Auckland
Lawrence Elder 97 Newcastle upon Tyne Brian Henderson 85 Northfleet
Anthony Ellingham 84 Luton Susan Herbert 83 Luton
Peter Evans 67 Luton Pauline Heudebourck 89 Surrey
Jean Fedeski 92 Dereham Albert Holt 86 Hertford
Alice Fennell 99 Blandford Forum Lily Hopcroft 86 Dunstable
Leslie Fenning 92 Knottingley Victor Hurrell 70 Luton
Albert Fisher 96 York Muriel Hutchings 100 Derbyshire
Robert Forster 68 Durham Archibald Jackson 87 West Lothian
Roy Foskett 73 Luton Teresa Joyner 87 Colyton
ECHO Spring 2021 17Obituaries CONTINUED John Lee 64 Welwyn Garden City Raymond Mortlock 67 Derbyshire Ann Lindsay 88 Luton Edward Moson 68 Dunstable Clifford Lindsay 85 County Durham David Mullarkey 75 Oldham Joyce Marr 86 Bishop Auckland Irene Mylam 95 Maulden Vivienne Mathew 85 Luton Brian Neal 82 Swadlincote Dorothy Matthews 88 Newport, South Wales Frank Newman 95 Surrey Edwards McCann 74 Luton Ernest Osborne 75 County Durham Michael McGinnes 78 Rugeley Irene Parr 89 Markyate James McGough 88 Spennymoor Ken Pendleton 86 Bury Isabella McKidd 79 Elgin Elsie Pickstock 86 Luton Lilian Metcalfe 88 Bishop Auckland Valerie Placentino 91 Birmingham Laurence Mooney 84 Oldham Hannah Raine 84 Spennymoor Reginald Moore 92 Birmingham Anthony Rees 74 Hayling Island Doreen Morgan 96 Launceston Terence Reynolds 77 Birmingham 18 ECHO Spring 2021
Anthony Rush 85 Birmingham Charles Wiggins 93 Luton
Norah Sansom 89 Dorset Ian Wilson 62 Crook
Pamela Satchell 82 Dunstable Monica Wise 88 Luton
Brian Sharman 90 Dunstable Joyce Wood 90 Luton
Audrey Shields 92 Salford Mary Wood 90 Luton
Brian Smith 91 Luton Raymond Wright 84 London
Roy Smith 89 Luton Mary Youll 82 Grimsby
David Stokes 73 Birmingham
Diane Stone 77 Dunstable Please note that the information in this list is provided
Ronald Sturgeon 94 Skelmersdale by the Scheme administrator, XPS Administration.
Since the closure of the pensions department in Luton,
Trevor Taylor 85 Luton
members’ former work location is not available to
Trude Thomas 93 Luton XPS Administration. We appreciate that this might
Anthony Webb 73 Derby make it difficult to identify former colleagues, so we
have included members’ most recent home location,
Betty Whooley 89 Luton
which we hope makes the information more complete.
ECHO Spring 2021 19Your contacts
If you have any questions about the Scheme or your benefits, or if you need to tell us
about a change of address, please contact the Scheme administrator.
Email us: TAX OFFICE
electrolux@xpsgroup.co.uk If you have a tax query, you will ECHO EDITOR
need to contact the tax office Sarah Marshall, Wordshop,
Call us: 7 Tilton Court, Digby Road,
quoting PAYE reference
0117 440 2482 Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3NL
120/TA15581
sarah@wordshop.co.uk
Write to us:
HMRC PAYE
Electrolux Group Pension Scheme
PO Box 1970
XPS Administration
Liverpool L75 1WX
Queen’s Quay
33-35 Queen Square Telephone: 0300 200 2200
Bristol BS1 4LU
Every effort is made to ensure the information in Echo is up to date at the time of writing. In the event of any discrepancy with the trust deed and rules or
applicable legislation, the information in this newsletter will be overruled.You can also read
