Did you work at Longbridge? Rover stories. Red Robbo things.

[motorpunk]

11 hours ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

OP - are you aware of the last Mini out of Longbridge? Some interesting comments on this thread! 

https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/211117/longbridge-tunnel-mini

 

Thanks. I’ve seen that car at the British Heritage Motor Museum. Lovely story!

[motorpunk]

12 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

My neck's not that bendy.

Thanks 👍🏼

[Heidel_Kakao]

17 hours ago, Floatylight said:

Remember a story which was probably folk lore and told xxxx hand about someone who had a knackered old mini, drove it to work one day, parked it in the car park, took the plates off, put them on a new one of same colour and drove home, never got caught apparently..

When my father worked at Land Rover some brand new vehicles were stolen from the staging area for vehicles awaiting transport to dealers by thieves walking onto site with some plates attaching them and then just driving past security.

[motorpunk]

Just sent some letters. “Er, hello number 31, I think Red Robbo lived in your house. Please call me.” Not optimistic of a reply.

[artdjones]

34 minutes ago, motorpunk said:

Just sent some letters. “Er, hello number 31, I think Red Robbo lived in your house. Please call me.” Not optimistic of a reply.

You may find that they have his personally annotated copy of Das Kapital and 15 years worth of Morning Stars in the loft.

[andy18s]

I heard a story of a few 6R4's making their way over the fences,and as they couldn't be sold legally anyway not much was done about it.

[sierraman]

16 hours ago, motorpunk said:

Just sent some letters. “Er, hello number 31, I think Red Robbo lived in your house. Please call me.” Not optimistic of a reply.

I gather by the end he wasn’t a wealthy man so it’ll not be a des res will it. 🤣

Researching this stuff and tracking people down in their obscurity fascinates me, where do you find all the information? 

[motorpunk]

3 hours ago, sierraman said:

Researching this stuff and tracking people down in their obscurity fascinates me, where do you find all the information? 

You have to be a detective! I read mountains of old newspapers, for starters… then find prominent people who knew him, then stalk them (!) and hope they’re still alive, I am reading a colossal volume of factory and legal records, checking addresses and people, it’s not easy but I love sleuthing it all. I don’t have FaceBook which is rather a hindrance actually.
 

The ‘looking for’ element of the title reflects that the hunt is also part of the story. 
 

Got excited today and ordered the cover art (front only, not the back cover yet). 

[Dobloseven]

Seems like he was abandoned by the union after his dismissal.His predecessor had said that you're only as strong as the men you represent.Wonder if  his family supported him.Obviously a man of great principle.

[somewhatfoolish]

On 14/01/2025 at 16:43, motorpunk said:

I don’t have FaceBook which is rather a hindrance actually.

That seems pretty daft; I get not wanting the stink of zuckerdroid on you but just set up a disposable email account and register using that. Do your research on a library PC if the cookie monster gives you nightmares. Facebook is where old people on the internet end up.

[motorpunk]

13 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

That seems pretty daft; I get not wanting the stink of zuckerdroid on you but just set up a disposable email account and register using that. Do your research on a library PC if the cookie monster gives you nightmares. Facebook is where old people on the internet end up.

I hate it. I absolutely hate it. And even if I registered no-one would respond to my connections regarding Derek Robinson as my profile would just be me with no friends or connections. And fuck adding in people just to build a credible profile just to get responses for my book. I’ll stick to letters and legwork. Did I mention I hate Facebook? 

[sierraman]

If I had Facebook I think I’d completely lose faith in the human race altogether. 

[Dobloseven]

18 minutes ago, sierraman said:

If I had Facebook I think I’d completely lose faith in the human race altogether. 

Thought you had!

[Bradders59]

On 14/01/2025 at 12:40, andy18s said:

I heard a story of a few 6R4's making their way over the fences,and as they couldn't be sold legally anyway not much was done about it.

That is true. I remember the stories in the Motoring press at the time.

The Rally team Manager 9whose name I cant remember at the moment) was selling them out of the back door, so to speak.

 

Edit. The name John Davenport rings a bell ?

[motorpunk]

^ There was a BL motorsport guy done for something like that, Davenport rings a bell…

And - I think I’ve found Robbo’s only child (well, someone who once knew them). Waiting for an email…

[warren t claim]

On 09/01/2025 at 23:19, somewhatfoolish said:

Did he ever acknowledge how tragically shit every communist state has ever been, or was he one of those special ones who just reckon it wasn't done properly?

 

[motorpunk]

Nice call from the current owner of the last house he lived in. Didn’t tell me much new but there’s an elderly neighbour to track down. People are so helpful. 

[Dobloseven]

21 hours ago, motorpunk said:

Nice call from the current owner of the last house he lived in. Didn’t tell me much new but there’s an elderly neighbour to track down. People are so helpful. 

I've often wondered about the home life of such a person.I'm feeling  seventies sitcom vibes.

Cue jaunty theme tune and cartoon title cards.

Derek pulls up outside his suburban home in his limeflower Austin Allegro.Gets out,slams the door, a wheel trim falls off and a headlamp drops out theatrically.He shrugs.His neighbour is painting his fence.

"Home early again,Derek,what is it this time?""Oh they sacked some men for sleeping on the assembly line,so we're on strike".Over the road,Mr Patel is polishing his Datsun Sunny,he overhears the conversation.Owing to a dearth of South Asian Equity members, he's played by a suitably made up English actor.He speaks with an exaggerated accent."Derek,you are damn fool man,if you carry on like this,we Blittish will have no motor industry left.In India ,if a man refuses to work,his master will beat him until he sees sense"."Oh,no need to worry MrP, we've got an all new,well apart from the engine and gearbox and some other parts,small car coming out that's a world beater"."And what will this "British car to beat the world" be called,?" sneers MrP,"The Siesta?".

Derek enters his house,His long suffering wife is in the kitchen baking."On strike again,Derek?. That's the third time this week and it's only Wednesday".Derek goes into the front room,not listening to her."I've made a new friend today at the Ladies Circle,Derek, she's given me this recipe for a fruitcake.She's really nice,her names Mary Edwardes.Her husband Michael works at your place.Sounds like he's got a really good job.Anyway I've invited them round on Saturday evening for a fondue party, I'm sure you'll find lots to talk about...."!

[motorpunk]

^ Mrs Edwardes was a real powerhouse, she divorced the old man, she was some human rights or equality lawyer or something. Quite different to him.

[Dobloseven]

15 hours ago, motorpunk said:

^ Mrs Edwardes was a real powerhouse, she divorced the old man, she was some human rights or equality lawyer or something. Quite different to him.

The lives of Edwardes and Robinson will forever be intertwined,I suppose.There's an essay on the Edwardes era currently running in ARonline.Doesn't sound good for Derek after his sacking, claiming mental health issues caused him to miss the timescale for his unfair dismissal claim and eventually considering suing the AUEW for negligence.Must have been a horrible time for him and it sounds as if he was used as a pawn in a ruthless game.Your employer definitely isn't your friend but quite possibly your colleagues aren't either.A hard lesson to learn.Anyway, really looking forward to the book and happy to pay for a copy in advance if  it helps keep things moving.This is important social history.Even the youngest person who could have "been there" is going to be well into their sixties so time is of the essence.

[motorpunk]

Another interview lined up. Can’t say who online. A political heavyweight from back in the day and someone I suspect of some shitty behavior. Not sure how to approach this one if/when I meet them. 

Oh, and more emails with leads on my story. 
 

ETA: Oooh, moved to the main page, I didn’t think the subject matter would be interesting enough. Thanks! 👍🏼

[lesapandre]

Geoffrey Robinson (politician) would be a useful contact. 86 and still with us. 

[lesapandre]

The whole mix of the motor industry and politics was pretty combustible and doomed to failure eventually, no politicians would ever attempt that again...oh wait!

[N Dentressangle]

On 18/01/2025 at 20:02, Dobloseven said:

I've often wondered about the home life of such a person.I'm feeling  seventies sitcom vibes.

Cue jaunty theme tune and cartoon title cards.

Derek pulls up outside his suburban home in his limeflower Austin Allegro.Gets out,slams the door, a wheel trim falls off and a headlamp drops out theatrically.He shrugs.His neighbour is painting his fence.

"Home early again,Derek,what is it this time?""Oh they sacked some men for sleeping on the assembly line,so we're on strike".Over the road,Mr Patel is polishing his Datsun Sunny,he overhears the conversation.Owing to a dearth of South Asian Equity members, he's played by a suitably made up English actor.He speaks with an exaggerated accent."Derek,you are damn fool man,if you carry on like this,we Blittish will have no motor industry left.In India ,if a man refuses to work,his master will beat him until he sees sense"."Oh,no need to worry MrP, we've got an all new,well apart from the engine and gearbox and some other parts,small car coming out that's a world beater"."And what will this "British car to beat the world" be called,?" sneers MrP,"The Siesta?".

Derek enters his house,His long suffering wife is in the kitchen baking."On strike again,Derek?. That's the third time this week and it's only Wednesday".Derek goes into the front room,not listening to her."I've made a new friend today at the Ladies Circle,Derek, she's given me this recipe for a fruitcake.She's really nice,her names Mary Edwardes.Her husband Michael works at your place.Sounds like he's got a really good job.Anyway I've invited them round on Saturday evening for a fondue party, I'm sure you'll find lots to talk about...."!

You've almost described the premise and plotlines of 'Love Thy Neighbour'

 

[Saabnut]

Not directly relating to Red Robbo or the Austin but nearly! In 1979 to 1981 (just after Robbo but the Austin was still going) I was the University of Aston in Birmingham doing a course entitled "Production Technology and Production Management". This was a course directly linked to car production, and in particular to the companies in and around Birmingham. Most of the lecturers were retired Austin engineers and most of the questions were also based on there. The course I was on was a "Thin Sandwich" course so 4 years of six months at University and 6 months in industry, in my case Ford at Dagenham, so I made few friends in my time there as being part of the enemy.

I heard many interesting tales from the Austin and witnessed first hand similar at Dagenham. They were all the same. Happy to chat about either if you want more background, but it was 45 years ago!

[motorpunk]

38 minutes ago, Saabnut said:

I heard many interesting tales from the Austin and witnessed first hand similar at Dagenham. They were all the same. Happy to chat about either if you want more background, but it was 45 years ago!

I’d like that! Will drop you a line sometime. Thanks. 

[plasticvandan]

My grandad worked at Longbridge during the mid 70s,believe he was quality control.on the allegro line... Traveled up from Worcester for the night shift in his sandglow maxi (the only bl cars he drove were maxis,maybe he knew something...) on his first night he was introduced to the foreman,who apparently as the first thing he said was " what drink do you like? We have tea,coffee,hot chocolate, it's ok someone will come around and wake you up when it's clocking out time"

Think he was called out to strike three times before he left tomwork at Carmichael fire engines,where I did my apprenticeship some 30 years later.

My dad's 54 Austin Somerset was bought new direct from the factory by a union convenor,who lived next door to robbos parents.

[plasticvandan]

Also,for.research,check out:

https://www.macearchive.org/

Lots and lots of midlands news reports from the time with many BL and other footage,strikes,interviews with robbo etc etc

[High Jetter]

4 minutes ago, plasticvandan said:

he was quality control.on the allegro line

No disrespect to him, but must have been a never ending task.

[plasticvandan]

Just now, High Jetter said:

No disrespect to him, but must have been a never ending task.

Always been a source of amusement,I'm seeing my dad this week,I'll see if I can find out more,I know he used to bring stacks of brochures home for my dad when he was a kid