Glasson Metalworks was born in Welwyn Garden City in 1965. The business was started by our dad Reg Glasson, who had moved to WGC in the late fifties from East London. To him it was wonderful – a new council house, new schools for his young boys, and plenty of work.

The story of how he became a skilled man is an interesting one, that to us now is seemingly from a different world. At the age of fifteen he was a ‘fitter’s mate’ at Becton Gasworks in East Ham, apparently highly thought of for his ingenuity and enthusiasm. He was involved in an accident at the works in which his face and eyes were sprayed with a caustic chemical. He was given money for the bus fare and told to get himself to Moorfields Eye Hospital on City Road where he received treatment. He had some nasty burns but fortunately no permanent injuries.

A management representative of the company arranged to meet him together with our nan and grandad at their home in Wellstead Road, East Ham, to discuss compensation. Two choices were proposed…the first offer was a small sum of money, the second offer was an engineering apprenticeship. Grandad (who also worked at the gasworks as a drayman) was all for the money as he needed a new push bike and the offer would just about cover it. But nan thought otherwise…she insisted on the apprenticeship. She was a strong woman, our nan, and grandad would have to suffer with his old push bike. An apprenticeship it was.