Trading on London Corn Exchange in the 1960's

[Mike McKenna]

I worked for White Tomkins & Courage Ltd in London from 1960 thru 1964. The company had several mills in England & N Ireland. We were major agricultural merchants supplying dealers, millers & com pounders in the south of England. For two years in 1963/4, I was a member of the sales team who attended the Mark Lane Corn Exchange twice a week on our stand. What I feel was so unique was that merchants would come and physically examine our samples of cereals/ expeller & extractions before placing an order. One got a real sense of trading & physical interaction. Buyers who could not attend the market inevitably place their buying orders via the special telephone we had on our stand.
Even to this day I can remember the names & personnel of at least twenty five of the companies we traded with.
A bygone age, but one I still delight in remembering.
Mike McKenna.

 

[Bill Turtle]

Was that anything to do with the Courage brewing family?

 

[Mike McKenna]

There may have been some family association but there was never any business contacts. We did have a business in Reigate Surrey that produced various brewery additives. We had a brand called Hop Natura.