Marion Jeffrey continues.............

In the very early days of the Fifties the girls had all the glamour of the day and wallowed in the music of their generation.
Madge McDowell was a very efficient Union rep as well as being one of the many top Examiners.The conditions were very good, the building was really kept clean and the facilities were very good.
Annie and Crissie Rollo were the backbone of the Ancilllary Department (Seaming & Examining & Sorting before dyeing). Annie was in charge of the stock with fellow worker Hugh Rea. while Chrissie was Daisy's right hand girl. she could handle any work load or problems and, loke her sister, was a very reliable time keeper.
Betty Aicken took over the Mending Department and was a great favourite with all of us.
Mauree Coyle (nee Montgomery) was put in charge of the Seamers. She was aked at one time to go to our South African factory for a few months but on reflection she opted to stay at home. Her brother was working in South Africa but Maureen chose romance and later married Arthur.

Kate Thompson and Bessie Whyte set up the Salvage Department having to work late two nights every week. Daisy Chambers often asked Bessie to sing her favourite song 'The old rugged cross' while the 3-11 shift knitters calle dout their favourite requests too. What a good time that was!.
Margaret Alexander too, was well able to keep the place running like clockwork for Ray Hall. the Manager.
Everyone worked hard and enjoyed the industrious happy atmosphere. Senior Management, in those pioneer days, had the greatest of respect for the workers and often brought visitors on to the shop floor to see the employees and their new systems.

We laughs galore working with his new fine and fragile fabric called NYLON. In time the fabric progressed from 45 gauge 60 denier right down to the sheer 75 gauge 7 denier......too fine in fact, fora long wear- life. I well remember that as the nylons got finer they were kept by their owners in Jam jars because the glass was smooth and the stocking was protected. We had to learn the great skill of mending..ie 'lifting ladders'.

The Nylon was a great place to work and a great boost for the town of Newtownards.

I left Berkshire when I had the opportunity of a Hairdressing business venture. One which I dearly loved and which became a good place to hear many of my former work friends reminiscing 'under the drier'.