Back to the future

Christopher (Chris) Matthews hails from Adelaide, South Australia, and works for CE&A Pty, the distributors for Tufnol products in Australia today.  A conversation between Roy Thomason, Managing Director of Tufnol Composites, and CE&A MD Phillip Matthews (Chris’ father and son of the founder of CE&A, Gerry Matthews) led to the work experience trip coming about.

Chris said: “I was keen to gain the experience of working for a larger, manufacturing organisation and to get more knowledge about the processes and composition of composite material.  I believe this will be a huge advantage for me when I return to work for CE&A back home and will benefit my understanding of the product’s potential applications.  My time here with Tufnol will go a long way to achieving these goals.

“Having the additional experience of spending some time in another country on the other side of the world is also great, it gives you a different perspective on life and I’m thoroughly enjoying my time here.”

Chris’ grandfather Gerry was a Yorkshireman having being born in Heckmondwike and like many British people at the time, decided to take the famous ‘£10 ticket’ to start a new life in Adelaide, Australia, in June 1964.  Previously he had been based out of Tufnol’s Manchester office and was a technical salesman and an on-the-road engineer.  Having worked in the marine industry since the early 1950s, he also spent time at Crabtree’s shipyard in Great Yarmouth prior to joining Tufnol.

Over the years Gerry worked with many interesting customers, advising them and then supplying Tufnol products on many ground-breaking projects. These included the newly opened Jodrell Bank radio telescope in Cheshire, the largest of its type at the time, and also on the famous Blue Streak rocket that for the first time took Tufnol material 500 miles up into space.  “Upon its return to Earth, the material had not suffered any detrimental effects despite its arduous journey or the heat effects upon re-entry” Gerry recorded some years later. His proudest achievement was working with Cunard engineers in specifying bearing materials for their flagship ocean liner, the Queen Elizabeth II (QE2). His technical guidance combined with excellent trial results ultimately led to the final design for the propeller shaft aft bearings being manufactured in Tufnol Bear Brand. They measured 33 inches in diameter by 132 inches long and helped earn the new ship its world beating reputation.

Roy Thomason said: “This is a great story of a former Tufnol employee who not only made a significant contribution to our organisation here in the UK, but also was instrumental in establishing our company’s products in the Australian market.  CE&A is a highly respected name, not only in the marine industry, but in the defence and mining sectors of Australia.

“It’s very sad that Gerry is no longer with us having passed away in 2014, as he had so many great stories to tell about our company and its influence on the burgeoning high tech world of the 1950s and 60s. However, it is great to have the latest generation of the Matthews family with us for some experience of a UK manufacturing company. 

“It is also really good to know that Phillip and Chris are committed to continuing the tradition of close association with Tufnol, which we hope will remain for many years to come.”

Like many of his countrymen, Chris is a big sports fan, in particular motor sport.  He also enjoys photography and has a long term ambition to learn to fly.