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A Wo rd F ro m Ou r Le ad er We had a visit by Hanson Chief Executive, Mr Alan Murray, who spoke to a number of you about the state of the industry and the reasons behind the current closures and lay offs.

This mainly due to two major points the price of gas and the lack of sales. He is confident that things will get better as the industry as been through this before in 1996 and 1988. In conclusion the visit was a success and I would like to pass on Alan’s thanks for making this visit worthwhile. Also I would like to pass on my thanks for making Swillington look good.

Alan Murray – Chief Executive Energy As I mentioned above the gas/electricity prices are really hurting the industry and Swillington is no exception. We are currently looking into fitting Inverters on various motors on the kiln to help with efficiency and reducing energy costs. We have also fitted a lighting control box to use lights when and where we need but every bit helps so please switch lights off when they are not needed. Any other ideas are welcome so please feel free to contact us. Quality The new instruction from Hanson Building Products Board is that any quality fault is the fault of the works and the works will have to pay for it out of there budgets which means that projects that 1of2

were being carried out might have to stop because of these payments. It is everyone’s job with regards to quality so lets be vigilant and cut out the own goals Health & Safety A new accident board as been fitted detailing the amount of days since our last reportable accident, please let’s work safely and get these figures increasing. Two people have been trained for accident investigation K Sawyer and D Bell. Every accident shall be investigated – we need to carry on our record. Projects The new cutter has now been installed and is working okay, this completes the program at the Auger area with the Sander and Spray Booth. The Block lifter in the Kiln Car repair bay is imminent, the new gas oil tanks have been installed and four new forklifts should be arriving shortly.

Qua rr y M at ter s b y Mic k B ra y fo rd In 2005 we obtained extra land to the north of the factory. D. fox and R. Smillie started stripping the soil and preparing the benches for excavation. Some of the material off bench two went straight down to make the first layer of the stockpile which was completed before Fox Plant came to start the stockpile. On the 15-05-06 Fox Plant started making stockpile No16, then came the rain, the first two weeks were a complete wash out, however after that the excavation has gone very well. I. Lund has been tacking samples of each layer of the stockpile to send to Kirton for analysing. The stockpile was completed on the 19-06-06. Fox Plant will be here until the 23-06-06. taking waste material to the tip. Thanks to every body involved

A Quic k W or d Fr om Tod dy

I came to work at what was then Armitages back in 1971, I think it was June 1st 1971 when George Parkinson then the manager set me on though he said afterwards he always regretted that decision. He would often wail it was one of the worst decisions he had ever made but he soon ran off leaving a new manager called Rex Armitage to deal with me. I started work doing all sorts of jobs round the old kilns, working with the drawers and the setters and did quite a bit of labouring. Towards the end of 1971 the Mr Men books came out and I found myself packing bricks in the bottom garage with Maggie May, you know those were the days. About mid 1972 they were building the new factory and the general manager Oliver Speak said to me about the new setting machine “Tha mun’ get that machine learn’t lad” and so I did and ended up working on it until 1982. Blimey in the last 34 years here I have been through some managers I think I have mentioned George Parkinson and Rex Armitage well there was John Speak (Olivers son), Phillip Ploughright, Keith Wilcox, Geoff Warren, Mark Woodward and of course Mick Lardner. I came into the office in 1982 I was in the office with Mick Brayford, David Cossins, Eric Naylor and Ernie Capper in those days we did two shifts. Below is a photo of us all…

Daniel Lumb Robert Jolley Who all started full time employment at Swillington during 2006

Wor ks Sta tis tic s Date 1st- 8th May 8th- 15th May 15th- 29th May 29th May - 5th Jun 5th- 12th Jun 12th- 19th Jun

Produced 372,972 462,932 405,508 272,132 454,736 432,112

Sales 262,396 333,224 253,172 229,868 303,472 402,020

Finish Stock 10,846,720 10,997,220 11,159,952 11,402,784 11,554,500 11,582,904

Jok es B y Mi cha el For decades, two heroic statues, one male and one female, faced each other in a city park, until one day an angel came down from heaven. "You've been such exemplary statues," he announced to them, "That I'm going to give you a special gift. I'm going to bring you both to life for thirty minutes, in which you can do anything you want." And with a clap of his hands, the angel brought the statues to life. The two approached each other a bit shyly, but soon dashed for the bushes, from which shortly emerged a good deal of giggling, laughter, and shaking of branches. Fifteen minutes later, the two statues emerged from the bushes, wide grins on their faces. "You still have fifteen more minutes," said the angel, winking at them. Grinning even more widely the female statue turned to the male statue and said, "Great! Only this time you hold the pigeon down and I'll crap on it's head." Innkeeper: The room is $15. a night. It's $5. if you make your own bed. Guest: I'll make my own bed. Innkeeper: Good. I'll get you some nails and wood. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbours listen.

A Sp eci al W elco me T o… David Zinnis 2of2