Paddy Dodds

Robert Dodds, or Paddy as he was universally know in the Company, was born in Donegal in 1915 and, like many of his generation, emigrated to the UK at the age of 18 to find work.  He lodged at a Mrs. Murphy’s and, just after the outbreak of WWII, married the landlord’s daughter, Wyn, on 30th September 1939.  Paddy volunteered to join the Army where he served with the Chindits in Burma, fighting a guerrilla action behind enemy lines, and did not see his new wife for the next five years.

 

Paddy joined us immediately on leaving the Army, and ran the paint shop at Edmonton.  At that time, we, in common with most engineering companies, had a paint shop together with grinding, polishing, machine and welding ‘shops’, which enabled us to transform raw metal into a complete finished product.  Paddy and Wyn, who also worked for us in the stores, moved from Edmonton to Haverhill with the Company in 1968.  Paddy always took great pride in the job, and was a much liked and respected man.  He was always willing to help people in need, both at work and home.

 

Paddy retired in October 1980, and died at a Nursing Home in Linton on 31st December 2000 at the age of 85.