Speaker Meeting 12-Jan-2012 Jan and Andrew


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oday we had the pleasure of a double act as Jan and


her brother talked with pride about the family business, C.Bain of Upminster the well known removal firm. With her very relaxed style and a voice easy on the ear, Jan began by telling us about the history of the family.


Victoria was on the throne. It began in Ilford and was still operating in that area when during the 2nd. WW they became founder members of the removal association NAFWA now known as BAR (British Association of Removers).As the company grew they opened a branch in Upminster in 1958 which became known as C.Bain of Upminster as they were still operating in Ilford and Chadwell Heath) and they are one of the oldest removal firms in the country.


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an and Andrew’s father took over the business in 1968. Jan still has fond memories of being picked up by the


removal lorries and described the comforting feeling of sitting in the cab. ‘Removals’ was definitely ‘in the blood’.


n 1997 Andrew became a ‘porter’ in the business and learned the trade from the bottom up. In 2002 Jan joined


the office but also did a bit of work on the vans. The company mostly did household work but if it was offered they would also tackle industrial work, always working to their Dad’s mantra-“Strive for perfection and always give of your best.”


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he social aspect of the workers was very important to their father and the company and in 1988 he organised a


sponsored piano push from Romford to Great Ormond Street Hospital, a distance of 16 miles. They rattled their buckets all along the route and collected a large sum of money for the hospital and leukaemia research and it was (as far as she knew) “the only time my dad dressed as a woman”.


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t this point Jan handed over to her younger brother Andrew who talked about what is means to be a 21st.


Century Removal Man.


e explained that the most important thing for the com- pany and the workers to remember is that moving is a


stressful time and by ‘never growing too big as a company’ it means that the work force are all attuned to the thinking of the company. The main thing for the removal men to remember is that they are ‘looking after your home for a day at an anxious time’. There could be many reasons for some- one moving and the customer could be feeling a whole rang of emotions between happy and sad at this time. It is


from C. Bain of Upminster T


hen their father died in May 2011 and they took over the


business it was described as a ‘family concern with six generations experience as specialists in household removals’.


he business was started in the 1800’s by Henry, when Queen


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important that one spends time with the customer to help them with the stress.


he first job is that of the Estimator who, work- ing in


cubic feet, decides how many men will be needed, how big a van will be required, which route to take and the number one priority the size and number of boxes


required. The days of the T chests are over and the cardboard variety comes in different sizes. These days too the company can and will pack for the customer. No problem is too big and the professionals at C. Bain say they can pack up a home in six hours.


he ‘Moving Day’ begins at 8am. Once they are set up they hope for a quick cup of tea and then begins ‘The


Dance of the Furniture’! The removal of furniture from house to van in the hands of a ‘pro’ is a sight to behold and the loading is usually all done by lunchtime. Then it is off to the ‘new home’ to unload. This is where there can be holdups and waiting is a problem frequently faced. (Has the paper work gone through? Are the keys available? are just a couple of the many things that can potentially go wrong.)


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nce inside the first thing to be done is to wrap the banisters before the unloading begins. Once this has


been completed everything is checked, any mess is cleaned up and the removal men congratulate the new home owners giving them their ‘good wishes’ or whatever sentiment is appropriate. They are also asked to complete a short questionnaire for the web site which will allow potential new customers to review the service.


ne of the other services which the new age removal firms offer is storage for customers who cannot move


into their new home straight away but have to get out of their current property. It is important that the company knows exactly where the customers goods are in the depot at any time as there will always be new furniture arriving and some going all the time.


inally the welfare of the workforce is important. The company must remember that there is considerable wear


and tear on the body and that the men must not be taken for granted. There is a certain amount of pride in being a removal man and this encourages a certain ‘camaraderie’ with other removal businesses. It is important for the company to encourage the feeling of being ‘Proud to be a Removal Man’ and the companies organise joint events which builds a certain ‘fellowship’ among the men.


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t the conclusion of the talk Jan and Andrew faced a barrage of questions from the members who showed their appreciation in the time honoured manner.


fterwards our gallant speakers admitted to being somewhat nervous and apprehensive about giving their


talk but they can rest assured that they tackled the task in the same way they tackle a house moving- with professionalism and a sense of humour that overcame any nerves they might have felt.


Story supplied by George Larkey 8


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