I started work at the Wealdstone factory when I was 16 in 1957 and enjoyed working there until 1967 ten years later. I began as a "boy" (term for unskilled dogsbody) then progressed to a handle gatherer in a jug shop and then to a mould blower making tumblers with my own "team" (shop) I was only 18 then. Following this I was a continental mould blower making much larger items.

The working conditions in this factory were hot and unpleasant in the summer the temperature would reach 130 degrees, the job was boring and repetitive as on the faster jobs articles could be made at up to 120 pieces per hour, the glassmakers were paid on "piecework" (by the number of pieces you made) no pay for bad work and only ¾ pay for bad "metal" (glass). We worked two shifts 6am. To 1-30pm and 1-30 pm to 9 pm. It was usual to drink about a gallon of water in a shift and a similar amount of beer in the pub later.

The boredom was overcome by wit and humour being shouted around the glasshouse as well as abuse which every one except the recipient enjoyed and it was very hard to keep a secret but we all would help each other if required.

I now earn my living as a woodturner and still after many years has passed my thoughts take me back every single day to that most memorable part of my working life, I cannot explain this at all but I now enjoy buying and selling Whitefriars glass and with research I have done I now have more knowledge of the factory than I ever had when I worked there. I will be pleased to receive any emails from people who worked there or any help with identification of glassware or buying pieces of Whitefriars glass.


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