The History of Ruddington Depot
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Post War Changes
A radical change
Soon after V.E. (Victory in Europe) Day the work force of the Ruddington Depot were stunned with the news that the filling factory was to close. The days of clean side were numbered. Within weeks filling of bombs and shells had ceased completely. Some of those engaged in filling left promptly and eagerly as they found other jobs. A number of the married women departed, thankfully and with relief, to become full-time housewives. Between V.E. Day and V.J. (Victory over Japan) Day three months later, all the buildings on clean side were cleared out, tidied up and vacated. When the war finally ended on V.J. Day very few of the workforce of the filling factory remained. Those who were left were either deployed at other R.O.F establishments, or found alternative work on the site.
Reg Bloodworth lived on the site, and worked for the Armament Research Establishment (A.R.E.). His son Tim explains:
“My Dad worked in the factory until the war ended. He used to take to pieces captured German armaments to see what they were like, and if they were any better or worse than ours. Then he went to work at the R.O.F. in Nottingham as an examiner of armaments. Mr. & Mrs. Kenniford lived at 3, The Avenue, and he was a research scientist who worked on the Depot during the war. Afterwards he went to work at Chilwell I think.”
Both men remained as neighbours living on the site after they were redeployed.
Lilian Slack ceased to be an A.I.D inspector and found alternative work on the site.
“Well at least I didn’t get the sack. I went to work at Taylor Woodrow’s prefabricated house distribution centre. I worked in the transport office which was on Asher Lane, and only a small place. We used to send out prefabricated houses which were stored in the large hangers, all over the country.”
The Story > Chapter 5 > Section 5.01