Memories of the New Merton Board Mills 1964-1976

by Robert Parkin

Bob Parkin followed in the footsteps of his father, entering the New Merton Board Mills in 1964 at the age of 17. This booklet follows the process from pulping waste paper and card to the production of the completed roll of board, and also charts Bob’s career progress until he left in 1976.

Norma Cox comments:

I thought this was an excellent recollection of Robert Parkin’s memories documenting the time he worked at the New Merton Board Mills in Merton. This publication is an historical record of the industrial and social history of Merton. The youth and inexperience of the 17 year old Robert Parkin is strongly felt as he worked enthusiastically and under pressure, knowing he needed to be vigilant. Production was King in the industrial environment.

I did shudder, at the thought of events when things didn’t go to plan; such as BROKE procedure on page 7,  the stressful work-shifts mentioned on page 6 and the health and safety implications of the fellow worker who ‘stood on the stacked bales as look-out while drivers delivered huge nets of recycled paper and board’ (page 10). I liked the author’s memories of his nostalgic return to Merton following in his own footsteps. I found the descriptions of the processes involved in the paper manufacture and the end glossary very useful. Recording memories is a sensible and likeable way to preserve history.