River to Dagenham - 1960 

This film is the story of my family's life. I worked in the City of London during the 70's. We lived in Dagenham as my Dad worked at The Ford Motor Company at the time this was made. He grew up in the Docklands area and as a boy took many trips on the Woolwich Ferry. His family history was centred on the East India Dock, his parents were Irish but had also lived in India during Queen Victoria's reign, they were sent back to London after the Indian Uprising. Dagenham was a very different place back then, I grew up with fields nearby to play in and ride horses owned by the local farrier, happy days.

In the 1950 s. There was a waiting list for employment at Ford's of Dagenham...I know that that my beloved old dad ( now long gone, bless his heart ) was on it...because the wages were so good...He ended up working at Murex metals in Rainham, and then Marley Tiles at Aveley until he retired at age 65 .....greetings from the Philippines.

I worked In the stamping and body plant for 26 years starting in 1976 on the Mk3 cortina, sadly it's all gone appart from the Engine plant !

Ford had their own ferry service from Kent to Dagenham,I spent 35 years using that ferry to cross from Kent

Fascinating, the world has changed so much.

I used to visit Ford's jetty in the mid 2000s , it was surprising how much had shut down . From employing 25000 people in the 1960s which was probably it's peak it was primarily producing engines and a few body parts . They reworked imported Connect fans from Turkey that had production faults as well . The power station was gone as well as most of the offices .

When England was England.

My husband worked in the body plant in the 70s and until it went automated with robots and they cut down on men working there,he said once to me that its good they getting robots so i can have a rest sometimes,I said if they have robots do not sleep,eat,take breaks or need light so they won't need you.Haha

NOT A CAR