Ron Laidlaw: Jack Swanston - Memories of Turnbulls Ltd.
Thu, May 12th 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Local member Jack Swanston reminisces on well known local business
The Rotary Club met last week with Junior
Vice President Scott Elliot in the chair. Club member, Past President and
Paul Harris Fellow Jack Swanston was the speaker introduced by Ron Laidlaw and
he based his talk on John Turnbull and Sons, Dyers where he was employed for 50
years and progressed from apprentice to Managing Director. He started as
an apprentice dyer, aged 15 years, at 21/- a week and worked through all aspects
of the business particularly in research in the laboratory. It was a 5
year apprenticeship and during this time he attended the Borders Textile College
at Galashiels. In 1949 he was called up for National Service in the RAF
and spent most of this time at a secret defence establishment in England.
After serving King and Country he returned to Turnbulls then, in 1954, took up a
post on the staff at the Borders College before being head-hunted back to
Turnbulls as assistant manager in 1960 and a short time later took over as
Manager a post he held until he retired at the end of the century. With
the spread of launderettes and every house having the latest washing machine
this eventually saw to the demise of Turnbulls in Hawick. Jack explained
the technicalities of the trade and a question session ensued after which Scott
Elliot gave the vote of thanks. The Rotary Club are holding a coffee
morning in Trinity Church Hall on Saturday, 28th May in aid of local charities
and are looking to the public for their usual support.
