A New Industry in Gwent by Oscar Puls

Why have I lived in Gwent for 50 years? So much in life is chance and, perhaps, being in the right place at the right time. In 1949 the Research Department of British Nylon Spinners began to build laboratories to expand the embryo ones that had been in Coventry since 1941. I had joined the company as its first scientist and was, after 8 years, an assistant research manager. in charge of all physical research. So, in 1949, the choice for me war either to leave in search of other employment or to venture into a country completely unknown to me. As my position was a good one and the company seemed to have an exciting and interesting future, together with my wife and our four children, we decided to move. We were fortunate in finding a very suitable house in the parish of Llanmartin. We are still there, with our roots quite firmly planted!

The company had started operations in Coventry and Stowmarket in a very small way, making yarns for parachute fabric and glider towropes throughout the Second World War. We were given permission before the end of the war to draw up plans and start construction of a factory to produce yarns for peace time use, provided it was in what was then called "Development Areas". We searched throughout the British Isles, finishing in Mamhilad by Pontypool. The site was flat, the air was clean. the potential source of labour was enormous but all were ex-miners or steel workers. How would they react to handling delicate yarns? The 4,000 or so operatives that. we finally took on, took to this work with great enthusiasm and proficiency. For almost the first time they had clean, air-conditioned working surroundings, a sympathetic employer, steady good wages, first class medical services and an excellent canteen.

While the main factory was under construction, a small one, housing full scale machinery (all imported from the U.S.A.), was built. In this the first operatives were trained to become foremen and charge-hands for the start-up of regular production. This happened at 16.20 on the 20th April 1948. The 50th. anniversary of this war celebrated in great style by the du Pont company which had bought the whole of ICI's synthetic fibre manufacturing plants a few years earlier. About 1.250 ex-employees appeared during 5 open days!

Now-a-days many employees have, besides their salaries., some "perks". Many of these first came into being during the mid 50s, when there were governmental movements restrict-ing increases in salaries. Our first one, limited to senior staff was a special dining room attached to the central canteen where we were offered a "free" luxurious luncheon; it could not be absolutely free for tax purposes, so we paid one shilling and six pence per week for the privilege. The only disadvantage was that. if one indulged too freely on the drinks and the six course meal on offer, one's afternoon activities could be impaired. My solution was never to stay in my office after lunch but to walk around my laboratories for discussions on the progress of work; this has become almost a life-time habit!

The company expanded rapidly so that extra production capacity was needed. New factories were built in Doncaster and Gloucester, followed by one in Oestringen (Germany), a part share in one in North Carolina (USA), one in Australia and another in South Africa. In the mid 60s the company became wholly owned by ICI. This had a dramatic effect on all of us who were not on the production side as it was decided to move the headquarters. including research and technical service to Harrogate. Many of us. including me did not relish the thought of moving north. I was particularly fortunate that a very attractive position in the Research and Development Department of ICI's head office became available. This, of course, meant a move to London. We had by that time, in the summer of 1968, become so settled in Gwent that we decided to keep our house and buy a flat somewhere as near as possible to the office. This turned out to be one of the best decisions we ever made as we were able, every weekend, to return to. the fresh air and relative peace of South Wales.

As the company was always very keen and generous in its support of outside activities by members of the staff, I became much involved in the professional associations of which I was a member. When the new technological universities-were created in the early 60s I was asked by the Institute of Physics (of which I was Fellow) to represent them on the newly formed University of Wales Institute of Technology in Cardiff. I remained a member of the governing body of what later became the Welsh Institute of Technology.

Before we moved to London we already had close associations With Caldicot. Firstly our youngest son went to the newly founded "Caldicot School". It was then led by that first rate Headmaster, Mr. Silk. The education that he received there was at least as good as that which his siblings had in Chepstow - including his activities in the Severn Tunnel Silver Band!

In the evenings, we often went there to make use of some of the Adult Education programmes; I remember, with particular pleasure, the discussion group which had a very active group of some ten people. Its discussions often led by a member of the extra-mural department of the University College in Cardiff.

So, now that 30 years have passed since I left the industrial scene of Gwent. I am back to enjoy in Caldicot the interesting activities now provided by the U3A!.