Reports

JONATHAN “Building Shadow Factories: High Duty Alloys Distington” 9th July

Jonathan Aylen joined us to tell us about the development of the High Duty Alloys factory just before the 2nd World War. Dubbed a ‘shadow’ factory it was built with a degree of camouflage and wasn’t given a high profile, despite its’ vital contribution to the war effort.
Jonathan highlighted the importance of a gentleman called Wallace Charles Devereux, who had set up the company in Slough using German expertise and machinery to develop Aluminium extrusion and who, following his extensive tours of German factories had written a report for the UK Government highlighting the danger of German rearmament. The subsequent building of the Distington site was very quick, involved 3000 workers and resulted in the development of aircraft increasing 100 fold between 1934 and 1939, moving from fabric and wood to Aluminium and Magnesium alloys.
Jonathan gave us an insight of what life at that time was like with a mixture of photos and anecdotes (such as his description of the drive to donate teapots and kettles) and was happy to answer the many question asked of him by the audience.
This was the last general meeting before the summer recess.