.. Canteen ..

Catering during the War at Grange Works was a rnajor task, due to the fact that the rnajority of the Canteen employees had no experience of catering whatever, also a Canteen was something quite new to most of the Factory workers.
 

With the rapid influx of Factory personnel in the early days, catering, with any degree of accuracy, was quite impossible. All permits purchasing rationed goods were issued by the Ministry of Food based on the previous period's sales. This difficulty, however, was overcome by the Ministry of Food issuing supplementary permits on our estimation of the number who would avail themselves of the Canteen facilities.

It was soon found that the kitchen premises were not adequate for the mount of trade being done. This entailed considerable alterations, and it was extremely difficult to keep the Canteen employees happy with workmen permanently In the kitchen. This applied mostly to the Chef's who are notoriously temperamental, and who quite rightly took great objection to labourers pushing barrow-loads of bricks through the kitchen, accompanied by incessant hammering, and clouds of dust.

In the peak period between 1 ,000 and 1 ,500 main meals were served daily. In addition to this, there were also the tea meals and snacks , As only a 30-minute meal break was then allowed, it was necessary to make the service as speedy as possible. This was achieved by serving 700 dinners i n 7 minutes. At this time also, in our Bakery, 5,000 cakes were made each day and approximately 1,000 bread rolls . A record was created in 1942, when 15,000 hot cross buns sold for Good Friday.

Another difficulty experienced was the servicing of tea trolleys from the Canteen to the Factory. This necessitated tea being made in the Canteen and taken through an open space into the Factory. The weather was frequently inclement, but rarely were any complaints heard from the trolley staff , who are to be commended for their untiring efforts. This difficulty was ultimately solved by the installation in the Factory itself of a Tea-making Station, thus obviating the necessity of making tea long before service.

The delivery of supplies was another problem, until pool deliveries were arranged, thus assuring the Factory of  fresh food, in particular vegetables, twice a week.

By the end of the war the Canteen was functioning very smoothly - good food and service. A really good team spirit existed between the workers and the Canteen employees. This was helped in no small measure by the appointment of a competent Canteen Committee, who met the Canteen Management frequently, and aired their grievances, and often made some excellent suggestions. This happy spirit showed results by the Ministry of Food Canteen Inspectorate voting this Canteen second to none within a 30-mile radius.