My father James William Hill started with Morris and Forndran in 1918 when he was fourteen years old, so small he had to stand on a box to reach the workbench. (The company was I believe, then known as Hankin and Bastadin) and was purchased by Mr Forndran, I do not know quite when, some years later. My father retired in1983 after 69 years with the company, My mother Winifred also workd with him in later years and btween them they completed 85 years of service. (I don’t recall them ever having a day off work). I am not certain where the original premises were situated but as a child I recall him travelling to Finsbury Park, London to work in a redundant garage that housed the small factory employing about six men. It was never called other than a ‘workshop’ as the employees were all highly skilled craftsmen And very proud of that definition.
I recall my father , who was a cabinet maker, tortoishell and Ivory craftman telling me that he had made the ivory frame for the fan used at the coronation and that they provided goods to the ‘gentry’ via Harrods and the very best london outlets. During the war, as they were skilled lathe turners they made parts for torpedo guidance systems As a result being essential munitions workers they were excused military service. Some time in the late fifties they relocated to Bletchley (Milton Keynes) but even after he retired my father continued to make ivory chess sets and fine items which I still have. I am amazed to find that the company still exists and wonder if the current owners are familiar with the background that is so well rememberd by me. I wonder if ‘Jim Hill’ is recalled in any context by the company of which he was so proud to be a part owner and director.

Mr Forndran had a son Kenneth in Bomber command who went ‘missing in action’ during the war. He left to my brother James, a magnificent Mechano set and to me a set of miniture stone building blocks. My brother eventually created the consulting engineers, Hill Cannon Associates of Harrogate. and I finished my career as a divisional chairman of the construction company John Laing and son. Amazing! how those gifts influenced our lives and How much we both owe to Mr Forndran and his son.