.. National Savings ..

At the end of 1941 only 18% of the Factory were participating in the Works Savings Group. Such apathy and lack of interest prevailed that it was felt necessary to inaugurate a Factory Savings Committee to promote the spirit of saving and make the employees National Savings minded. This, to a large extent was achieved after such perseverance and dogged determination on the part of the Committee.

Valuable assistance financially was given by the Directors of Joseph Lucas Ltd., which enabled periodic Drives to be held, and which each time resulted in increased membership and in many cases increased savings by those already members of the Factory Group.

Much publicity and campaigning was made possible through the help of the National Savings Committee for the South Wales area, who also arranged very suitable and notable speakers, among whom were the following:-

Vice Admiral Sir Robert Hornell, D.S.O.

Capt. Cyril W. Green, M.N.

Miss Jean Batten, C.B.E.

Flt/Lt. Kuttelwascher,D.F.C. (Czech. Flying Ace).

Lord Keys, G.C.B., K.C.V.O., D.S.O.

In April 1943, when the Factory percentage was 70%, Sir Stafford Cripps was approached by the Factory Committee, and asked if he would pen a brief personal appeal which could be handed out while non-members were canvassed. This was readily done (see attached copy) and resulted in an increase of 24%, making the total Factory percentage 94%.

The next Drive was a very difficult task. Only very stubborn employees were now outside the Factory Group, but great assistance was given by the presence of Lord Keys, Admiral of the Fleet, who at that time had just lost his son in the Commando raid on Rommel`s headquarters in North Africa. His stirring speech touched by grief, to over 2,000 employees in the Works Canteen, appealed to the workers as none had done before. The applause was deafening, and the Factory percentage rose to its peak, namely 99.8%. The employees at this time were in the region of 3,500.

From the latter part of 1941 to 1945, the total amount saved at Grange Works by weekly contributions was �97, 524.

.. Sir Stafford Cripps Appeal ..