Erewash Foundry

Work memories

Erewash Foundry

The best days of my life were at Erewash Foundry,
My neighbour said when I started there.
She was employed in the war time effort,
When easy days were rare.

Things were different in my time
But her words would often ring true
The foundry workers were friendly
And toiled the whole shift through.

They were quick to lend a helping hand
And share their know-how as well
They didn’t try to show you up
And mean tales they didn’t tell.

There was danger walking through the foundry
And the noise on your ears was hard
The heat from the furnaces and passing hot ladles
Meant you had to be on your guard.

But I never tasted a cheese sandwich
Like they made in the Erewash canteen.
It’s funny what you remember
Erewash Foundry - a dirty, dusty but treasured scene.

It’s all gone now. You can drive past
And see nothing of how it used to be
But the memories of good times and trusty mates flood back
And the ghost of the foundry in your mind’s eye you see.