From pilot to printer (From Penarth Times)

From pilot to printer

WHEN spitfire pilot Fred Beacon returned to Penarth after the war in 1946, he started up a one-man printing business operating a manual press.

Fred Beacon, now aged 82, joined the RAF in 1942 and served for three years.

After completing aircrew training in southern Rhodesia, he was posted to Palestine, Egypt, India, Burma and Italy.

In Burma as a Spitfire pilot, Fred fought against the Japanese.

On his return to Penarth after the war Fred set up his own printing firm - Beacon Printers.

He had already served part of an apprenticeship in printing which was cut short by the outbreak of war.

Fred said: "I took over the business from Miss Emily Matilda Harries of Railway Terrace.

"I believe the business was founded in 1880 and started in a garden in Hickman Road.

"In the premises I took over, there was no running water, electric or gas - just two'cropper' platen presses and plenty of type.

"The first few months in 1946 were very cold indeed. The bucket of water I kept to wash my hands in froze. I suppose I only kept warm by treadling the platens.

"It was so cold that one customer remarked that I was probably the only printer who could have set type with boxing gloves on!

"In our first year of business the turnover was 390.00," he added.

The printing presses Fred purchased were operated by treadles along similar lines to sewing machines.

Fred said: "The first automatic presses didn't come in until the mid-1950s.

"Working the manual presses was hard work but I was a fit young man.

"After a few years, electric motors were added to ease the burden, but after a while the landlord asked me to move on as he was convinced my machines would soon be crashing through the ceiling onto his cars - he ran a garage below."

In 1950 Fred moved the business to Ludlow Street and in 1973, after 27 years, he took his first Saturday off!

The business moved again to Cornerswell Road and by the time Fred retired in 1988 staff numbers had risen to 20.

Fred Beacon is a founder and life member of Penarth RAFA club and a life member of the British legion.