May & Baker

A Memory of Dagenham.

My father, Keith Ramsay, worked at May & Baker all his working life as a Pharmaceutical Engineer and I remember, as a young child, my dad talking about the making of the children's cough mixture Tixylix and also Anthisan. Dad used to talk about the Plants he designed to make these medicines and as a young child I always thought he was talking about 'garden' plants! My mum, Audrey Ramsay, also worked at May & Baker as a Secretary and that was how they met, fell in love and got married in 1953. I remember the Christmas parties in the canteen both myself and my sister enjoyed. I have a wonderful black and white photograph of me about five years old sitting with a party hat on my head holding a paper plate of biscuits but reaching out to grab a chocolate biscuit! The photographer captured this moment and when I look at this photo even today, I remember my desire to take that chocolate biscuit 55 years ago!! My dad always told the story that on the day I was born in December 1962, he rushed from the old King George Hospital to May & Baker as the Duke of Edinburgh was visiting that same day, celebrating the Year of Productivity and I remember my dad always telling the story that he wanted to tell the Duke that it was his year of productivity too, he had just produced a baby daughter!! I use to joke with dad that the Duke was more important than staying with mum in the hospital holding me! Anyone remembering my mum and dad, Keith and Audrey Ramsay, I would greatly like to hear from you. Sadly, we lost dear dad in 2015 at 84 and dear mum in 2019 at 91. Thank you Susan Lessis (Ramsay).