Up: Hayward
YOR: 103 of 113
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personal interests proved how far he was prepared to go in the company's
service. Enfield had largely been his idea and he was determined to see
it through to the end.
It became desirable in 1952 to release Mr. Coughin
from the office of company secretary and G. W. Trehane, who had joined the
company in 1930 and had gained a wide experience in various departments
from which he graduated to become the company's accountant, was appointed
to that office.
The following year the company adopted a staff
pension scheme to secure the future welfare of its employees.
The company was soon to lose another old friend.
Early in 1953, the oldest surviving director, J. G. Willmore, with service
dating well over sixty years died suddenly "in harness." Such memories
as he might have had of those far-off days when the firm's letters were
written by hand, when horses and carts served where now lorries are
employed, when old William Hayward was still a regular attendant at the
office, and when Enfield was a tiny village only to be found on large-scale
maps, such memories as these he had intended to recount for the purpose of
this history. With his sudden death, they passed away with him.
It was fortunate that during the immediate post-war
years the company had the advantage of the counsels of its three most
senior directors, A. L. Collins, H. T. Walker and J. G. Willmore, mustering
between them a century and a half of service. Each, in his turn, made his
last contribution before quitting a scene he had known so long. This
provided a breathing space for those who were to follow while they combated
and, to a large extent, overcame the abnormal conditions then prevailing.
Life at Haywards during those years reflected that
of the nation, and like the nation the company speedily adapted itself to
make the best of things. It was not merely a question of treading water
until the tide should turn but of swimming against the current of events
in the hope of easing the general plight. The result of taking this broader
view was that in serving its own interests, the company also served those
of the country.
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