Albert T. SAVIN 1899-1971



Albert Thomas Savin, who was known as Bert, was born on 6th August 1899 in Willesden, in north west London. He went to Oldfield Road School, Willesden¹. Following in his father's footsteps he started work for the Metropolitan Railway on 27th August 1913 as a ticket sorter for six shillings a week². He was then promoted to a booking clerk on 2nd June 1914 working at Moorgate Street on an annual salary of £25. On 14th April 1919 he was appointed the clerk running Baker Street station with a salary of £45 a year which a few months later was increased to £100 on 1st August.  

 

Bert with Doris 1924



  In 1922 having reached his 21st birthday he appeared on the electoral roll³. This gave his residence as 4 Conley Road, Willesden together with both his parents. His salary steadily increased each year but saw a jump from £160 in 1924 to £220 in 1925. With a greater income it was perhaps no coincidence that on 10th July 1926 he married Doris Lillian Carter at Harlesden Congregational Church¹². By 1927  they are  living at 2 Holland Park  as this was where their first son Roy was born¹.

 

Wedding photo with his new wife Doris

 

By 1931 they had brought their own  brand new house at 11,  Ashcombe Park, Neasden in north west London where they lived for the rest of their lives. It was built on the former Neasden golf course, by local builder Jeremiah Green,  and was part of what was originally called the Dollis Park Estate⁴. The property was the end terrace of a group of four. It was described at the time as comprising of 3 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, bathroom, kitchenette and separate W.C. The houses were advertised for a price of £700 with a small deposit required and mortgage repayments offered  of 21 shillings and 4 pence a week. There in 1933 their second son Denis was born.   

 

Early 1930s at Ashcombe Park



 

By 1939 he was employed as a supervisor in the London Transport payroll section⁵. During World War Two Bert was working in the War Services Allowance section at 55 Broadway¹. This was at the head office of the  London Underground, part of London Transport, as in 1933 the Metropolitan Railway along with other London railways had been nationalised. Bert because of his age and being in reserved occupation was too old to be conscripted into the armed forces but he did serve in the Home Guard. This was a secondary defence force formed in case Britain was invaded by Germany and its allies. London Transport had its own battalions and Bert presumably belonged to one such a unit. At first they did not have any guns so he was issued with a stick⁶. He went out most nights to guard the railways against possible German paratroopers⁶.   

  

Bert, son Roy with Pop Carter behind

  

 Bert had played football for his church team as a youngster⁷ and supported the local professional Football League team of Queens Park Rangers. He attended the famous 1923 F.A. cup final, the first to be played at the then new Wembley Stadium. The start of the game was delayed for 45 minutes as crowds estimated to be over twice the official capacity spilled onto the pitch. The family still have the match programme and ticket stub which is collectable.  

 

Bert's favourite sport however was cricket and he played for the Metropolitan Railway club up until 1949⁸. This included captaining its 2nd team and was the club chairman for a number of years. He had a collection of the sport's famous reference books "Wisden Cricketer's Almanack"⁹.    

 

Bert with grandson Neil Savin in 1963

 

 Bert continued to work in the payroll office and in August 1963 his 50 years of serve to his employer was officially celebrated, as shown in the photo below¹⁰. The following year he retired having reached the age of 65 when he was employed in the Chief Financial Officer's Department¹¹. By now his wife Doris had severe arthritis and used a wheel chair. In his latter years Bert became a trustee of Neasden Methodist Church¹. He now had the time to grow flowers, like dahlias and chrysanthemums, in his garden and green house to participate in competitive shows⁹. 

  

50 years in the job⁸

Sadly his life was cut short when he developed throat cancer and died in hospital on 4th May 1971. It is probably telling that photos of him in his younger days sometimes show him smoking a pipe, like his father⁷. Doris preceded him a few months before, dying of a burst stomach ulcer. His family marked his life by way of a stain glass window at his church but subsequently the building was demolished. Also a park bench with a dedicated plaque in his name was installed in the London Transport sports ground where he used to play his beloved cricket. When the site was sold for redevelopment the bench was rescued and is now in his daughter in-law's garden.            

 

Over 50 years of service

 

1. Recollections of his son, Roy, from February 2012

2. Details of his early employment up to 1925 are from the Transport for London Archive:
a) Metropolitan Railway, General Offices, Stations and Clerical staff register, 1881 onwards
b) Booking Clerk General Conduct Register 1, 1876 onwards, Metropolitan Railway Eastern and Western Joint Lines

3. London electoral register 1928-1936, London Metropolitan Archives

4. Sale details of the property were from the Hendon and Finchley Times 4/1/1929, cross referenced with a court case mentioning the estate's builder by name in the same paper 24/6/1932 and the H M Land registry historical entries for the property.

5. The 1939 Register, The National Archives, Kew.

6. Recollections of his son, Denis, from November 2011 onwards.

7. Photographs in possession of his daughter in law, Sylvia.

8. London Transport Magazine, July 1964.

9. Recollection of his grandson, Alan, April 2018.

10. London Transport Magazine, October 1963.

11. Certificate of Service, 27th June 1964, held by his daughter in law, Sylvia

12. Harlesden Congregational Church and Lecture Hall, marriage register 1902-31, London Metropolitan Archives