
assay office oral history project
As part of the Heritage Lottery Funded project that ran during 2014/15, an oral history record of the Assay Office was created. Oral Historian, Helen Lloyd conducted 29 interviews with current staff, Wardens, Guardians, customers and former employees to create a unique audio archive that captures the voices and memories of the people who have worked for the Assay Office and others in the Jewellery Quarter who have a close association with it. The result is a fascinating insight into a business that was founded in 1773 and has been located in the Jewellery Quarter since 1877. The employees of the Assay Office, both current and former, have lived and worked through times of significant social and industrial change. The Oral History Archive provides an insight into the part the Assay Office has played in the Jewellery Quarter and how hallmarking remains vital to the assurance of quality that has characterised the Birmingham jewellery and metal trades for many years.
Stephen Alabaster
Director at Alabaster and Wilson Ltd
Michael Allchin
Previous Assay Master
Sheila Bagley
Preparation Operator
Phyllis Benedikz
Librarian and Curator
Terry Billington
Human Resources Manager
Roger Burman
Previous Chairman of the Assay Office
Alan Burns
Maintenance Manager
Julie Burns
Laser Hallmarking Supervisor
Michelle Cartwright
Laboratory Admin and Production Manager
Debbie Cotterill
Laboratory Assistant
Patrick Fuller
Chairman of W B The Creative Jewellery Group Ltd
Alwymn Griffiths
Production Operations Manager
Faye Grove
Senior Hand-marker
Stella Layton
Chief Executive and Assay Master
Andy Left
Tool-room Supervisor
Dave Logan
Preparation and Dispatch Manager
Mark Malin
Sub-office Manager
Kathy McMillen
Operations Director
Steven Millington
Proprietor of L J Millington
Alan Morris
Customer Liaison Manager
Andrew Morton
Managing Director of WB The Creative Jewellery Group
Roshan Nightingale
Marking Floor Supervisor
Cheryl Owen
Diamond Grader
Sandra Scott
Office Manager
Alan Smith
Laboratory Assistant
Roy Smith
Customer Service Manager
Royston Southall
Accounts Supervisor and Project Manager
Tina Watts
Leading Hand Examining
Mandy Whitehouse
Safeguard Office Supervisor