Memories....Rosina Anderson

Congratulations to you Charlie in completing such a wonderful website for so many to view and reminisce. I’m sure all of us wish to thank you for your hard work and perseverance in making this all possible. You 34 years service with the company has proved that you were always interested in your job.

During my years with Berkshire I have seen many changes, which you Charlie have already outlined, including changes in the company’s names and the number of employees.When I first joined the company there were 1100employees in total and when I retired that number had dropped to only 300. I wonder what I did wrong!!!.

Anyway, there are many things which come to mind and which caused a lot of fun. There was a lot of fun, along with a lot of organising of the Children’s Christmas Party, Christmas Dinner for everyone, including the invitations to past retired employees, who always enjoyed the ‘day-out’. (Now I would qualify if it were still functioning!!!).

I remember too, the terrific lunch-time show which I organised with Gene Fitzpatrick and his band when our Jim Francis was on the stage with them singing “Blue suede shoes”. Everyone enjoyed the day and were able to listen to it on the radio the following week.

Then we had great fun at the weekly ten pin bowling tournament, at Dundonald Ice Bowl, which was well supported by all the teams who took part every Thursday night.

However, there is one thing in particular that comes to my mind, when one day David Manning came to my office and asked me if I could suggest anything which would boost the morale of the women-workforce in the Company. I immediately said “Yes- a box of chocolates to everyone on their birthday.” He thought this was a brilliant idea and said “Great Rosina….take care of it!” so I landed myself with yet another job. It was great; there were at least three birthdays every week and when I presented the box of chocolates to those concerned, their colleagues sang “Happy Birthday!” to them. Naturally I always got to sample one from the top layer.

The good times we had outshone the not so good ones…but on many occasions the passing of old or family friends caused a lot of grief within a department. It is nice to reminisce about the old times and to those of you who read this, I would like to say a big “Thank You” for the wonderful comradeship which you showed to each other during many years of employment in the ‘Nylon’

.It is too bad that things had to come to an end. It just means that the young people of today, who perhaps would have liked to work in the factory and to learn about all the manufacturing processes, just didn’t have a chance. But..where are they all today?. perhaps sitting in front of a computer reading Charlie’s website about the Berkshire Nylon factory.