As I was fourteen years old on Boxing Day 1938, I could leave school, but as I had not got a job I went back to the Intermediate School in January 1939. Two weeks later Mr Hewitt, the headmaster, arranged for me to go to J & C Claridge Ltd. for an interview as Office Junior; he explained where the factory was, as I had no idea, as I lived in Higham Ferrers.

After an interview with Mr Hobbs, (who knew my family, although I didn’t know him).

I started working there for 7/6d a week, 8.30am until around 5.30 – 6.00pm, Monday to Thursday, Friday 6.30 – 7.00pm, Saturday 12.30 to 1.00pm.

In the office besides Mr Hobbs were Jayne Newell and Barbara Nicholls. My first job in the morning was to collect the previous day’s work sheet from the factory foremen.

Mr Jones, Clicking Room.

Mrs Taylor, Closing Room.

Mr Ekins, Lasting Room.

Mr Ingram, Rough Stuff (where the shoe soles were cut).

Mr Ablett, Finishing Room.

Mr Clayton, Packing Room.

These sheets were then used to work out the cost of making the shoes, and also the wages of the men on piece work; those on day work earned a set wage for the number of hours they worked. I can’t remember the exact rate, but I think it was somewhere around £3 per week. The piece workers around £4, according to which department they worked in.

I had to make the tea and wash up around 10.30am and 3.00pm for the Directors and office staff.

Mr John Claridge came to work for about an hour in the morning, or longer if he was seeing leather salesmen. He was very fussy about the leather he ordered. He didn’t work in the afternoons; he came in about six o’clock after everyone had left. I had to make a pot of tea to leave for him as my last job of the day. He was quite different from his brother Charles usually called Darn, short for Darnell, his second name.

Darn Claridge worked mainly in the factory. He filled in if someone was away in any department, and also met Reps from suppliers of leather and various other goods required to make shoes, and parts for the machinery.

On Monday mornings I had to go to Park Avenue to take Mr John Claridge’s white overall worn the week before, and pick up a clean one. On alternate Mondays I also had to go to the House in Hayway (now the Memorial Clinic) to take the  rent for the fatory, which was owned by their uncle, Mr J Claridge.

About three months later Barbara Nicholls left and Eileen Smith (now Iliffe) took her place.

In 1944 I had to Register for war work and spent some time away, as did Eileen.

When the war ended I went back to work for J & C Claridge, Eileen was now married and her place was taken by Joan (I forget her surname).

I got married in 1946 and left to go and live at Chilwell.