DODMANS

[EWW]

taken 1959.

[incony]

amazing history, especially p spooners post... isnt that so special...? history is everything..

i still venture Dodmans but not the same place..

Dodman Ltd

Hamburg Way
North Lynn Industrial Estate
King’s Lynn
Norfolk
PE30 2ND

[DonHewitt]

Donald Hewitt born 1905, known as BUFF, although not many people knew his real name, worked at Dodmans all his working life for 33 years. Started in 1918 as an apprentice press forgeman / boiler maker. He repaired boats on the docks during the war years. Lived down Wyatt Street, roughly at Morrisons roundabout. Married Mildred who worked at the Spread Eagle (opposite Dodmans) and together had four children: Eve, Joyce, Donald and Richard. BUFF died in 1951, aged 46 from a heart attack. Richard emigrated to Canada in late 70s and still lives there, Joyce and Eve passed away and son Donald still lives in Norfolk.

[pspooner]

Dodman's Cricket Team - with trophies! Unknown date but likely the 1950's by the look of my dad. (apologies for the reflections.)
Looking at the full photo, let's see who you know:
left to right:
Top row: 1?, 2 Mr. Pishorn, 3? , 4?, 5?, 6 Mr. Leeder
Middle row: 1 Bob Spooner, 2?, 3 Willie Forster, 4 Mr Neve 5. ?
Front row: 1? 2?

[Appso]

re cricket photo. middle row, 2nd from left is Eric Hales.

[pspooner]

I think I read on the forum that Dodman’s closed in 1975. Does anyone have info as to why? It would be logical to document here the end of this longtime Lynn business. And then, the redevelopment of the site - who was involved - was it a private developer or a Council project?
Thanks

[westwinch]

I was told this was the largest boiler to leave Dodman's at the time, The driver was Bill Foster,

[Spooner]

I have recently uncovered a lot of old photo's from Dodmans, these include people and various boilers etc. When I finally get time to scan them in and upload them I will.

[pspooner]

I'm intrigued! please please post those photos - even one at a time.
Thank you!

[EWW]

Russian deligation visiting Dodmans. Could be in early 50s. Is Mr Spooner in the picture?

[pspooner]

No, he was a 'workman' so not invited to be in a photo with the big wigs - but Willie Forster (but maybe Foster but with a Norfolk accent!) is in the middle with glasses with hand in pocket. Compare his photo in the middle of the cricket picture above.

Thanks for posting!

[EWW]

Bit of a collaboration post with one of our expats in the USA. The history of Dodmans, chapter and verse.
I think it is a really good addition to the archive and well worth a read.

[AbominableDrH]

Second from the left (standing) is, I'm about 99% sure, a very young Ted Harrop. I'm guessing this is about 1941 before he joined the army, so he'd be about 18 years old.

I enclose a photo of a group of workers at Dodmans in the 1940's. My father, John Twyman, is in the back row by himself. Does anyone recognise the others?