The BU History Group, from Leicester have been collecting memories about the British United Shoe Machinery Company (BU).
In its 1960s heyday this powerhouse of British engineering employed over 4500 local people and was the world’s largest supplier of shoemaking machinery and materials. The final quarter of the twentieth century saw the gradual demise of BU culminating in its eventual closure in 2000. With support from the Heritage Lottery Fund the BU History Group have connected with ex employees of the company and built a record of memories, photographs, artefacts, documents and even a few videos. Much of the material appears on the project website, including oral history recordings, available to view online at http://www.buhistory.org.uk.
The group are now publishing ‘BU People’, a 52 page landscape A4 size book made up of contributions from many people connected with BU.
This people’s history contains memories, history and many colour and black and white photos. It covers much of the company’s 100 year existence, from early rapid growth through to closure and the workers pensions debacle. In between are stories about being an apprentice, the Quarter Century Club, the BU at War, family life connected to the firm, technological excellence and innovation, and pride and satisfaction at working for BU. It serves in part as a snapshot of factory life in Britain from just a few decades ago.
How do I get a copy?
If you would like to purchase a copy, please contact the BU History group for details. Email them with your enquiries at info@buhistory.org.uk. The book is priced at £5 (of which £2 will be donated to LOROS, a Leicestershire hospice charity).
