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Memories.... Ken Hughes

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Ken Hughes (an employee from 1950-1989) writes:-

The company was started in the factory of Short Bros.& Harland in late 1948/early 1949 whilst the Ballyharry plant wasbeing built by the Kelvin Construction Co. Ltd, a Scottish building contractor.
I joined the company on Monday 30th January 1950 as a production clerk. The first stocktaking had just taken place the Saturday before I started and the Total stock was 1,300
Dozens. A few weeks later we celebrated our first week to produce 200 Dozs.
Here follows some of the employees which I can remember:-
Len Foyster- had quite a reputation within the Hosiery industry in Britain and was one-time head-of-department for Marks and Spencer.
Other Directors- Alasdair Donaldson who had a brother who owned an island ( The Isle of Brecheau) in the Channel Islands. These two brothers were partners in Donbros Ltd., the U.K. agents for Berkshire Hosiery and also Textile machine Works of Reading Pa.,. Sir Richard Yeabsley and Ferdinand K Thun with Bill Crone as his alternate Director. Bill Crone had been an Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce.
John Howard Ward - had been a senior man in a hosiery firm in England, having gravitated from his father's Silk importing business.
George Sherman Shaw - Secretary & Accountant; was one of the best accountants in Northern Ireland being respnsible to Sir Richard Yeasbley, the Financial Director and President of the Chartered Accountants of England.
Office Staff - Ena Geddis - The Managing Director's Secretary had been Billy Graham's Secretary during his first Crusade in Europe.
Rebecca (Ruby) Dunn - was Secretary to the General Manager and lived at Sunnyside Farm, Conlig.
Queenie McWilliams
(later Pinnons) was the Sumlock operator and kept the yarn records.

Ena Chambers - typist, emigrated to Australia and married a chap she had met on the boat;
sadly, she died giving birth to their first child.
Billie Warnock - Telephonist and Receptionist.
Brian I.D.McMeekin - Sales; he later became Chairman of the Pretty Polly Group. During the war he had been a Lieut. Commanderin the Royal Navy in the USA. He was succeeded by George Clarke.
Wages Staff- Bill Henderson - a Scotsman.
Maureen Dorman - Wages Clerk who married Maurice Agnew the electrician.
Helen Finnigan - Wages Clerk and sister to Wilfie Finnegan who was a watchmaker and needle plierer in the Knitting Shop.
Despatch - Bob Walker
- was very proud of his very bald head which he attributed to the helmet he had to wear in the trenches.
Trainee Managers - Reg. Naylor - became the Quality Control Manager and was succeeded by Peter Hackett.
Tommy Harkness - became Dyehouse Manager, succeeding Russ Payne.
Terry Wilson - joined the company and eventually became a Supervisor in the Ancillary Department.
He left the company and became a partner in a trouser-making firm.
Neville Barrett Chief Engineer, and brother to Philip, was, in the early 60's, to introduce the 21 Gauge machinery and styles and patterns of Knitwear. He was very ably assisted by Ethel Magill an expert in Stitching and Design.

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