Ernie Betts

Ernest John Betts

 

Ernie Betts was born on 5th March 1914, and following demobilisation from the R.A.F. in 1945 he joined the Berkel Scale Co.  During the war he had served as an airframe fitter in Egypt, North Africa and Italy.

 

In 1954 he joined the Swift Scale Co. and when that company was taken over by us in 1960, joined our Service Department operating in the South East London area.  His father Fred Betts was also working for us at that time.

 

As the Lion News recalled, Ernie was ‘a man of many parts with a keen sense of humour, his hobbies include gliding, gardening and music.  We understand he now plays an electric organ following his introduction to electronics through the Lion 2000.’

 

Ernie retired in March 1979, when at his farewell do he recounted an amusing incident where the weight Indicator of a cylinder scale was seen to be fluctuating dramatically every few seconds.  After removing the drum he came face to face with a mouse using the chart as a treadmill!

 

Ernie died in Blisworth on 27th March 2001, aged 87.