An interesting thread to have started - for posterity, as well as for us - so thanks, Allan.

During the War, my mother worked at Steeton Dump (Ordnance Factory) making shells and aero machine-gun bullet cases. Then after the War, she had quite a long spell as a weaver (eventually working eight looms) at Lister and Moss's, down't'mill fields, near the top end of Aireworth Road. During my early years at KBGS she worked at Bottomley's Mint Rock, just across Bradford Road from where we lived. Subsequently, she worked for a very long time, until retirement, at'Trico, as a sprayer. To the best of my knowledge, not one of these firms is now still in operation.

After being demobbed, early in 1946, my dad was unemployed for a while because his status as a qualified joiner (accelerated apprenticeship as a soldier) was disputed by certain members (including his own cousin) of the local union. The union eventually voted in his favour, and his first job was with Ernest Slater and son, joiners and builders (can't remember where they were based), then after a couple of years, and for several years, he worked for a similar outfit, Alf Pickles & son, at Utley. I have a photograph of him and workmates from those years (late forties-early fifties), taken by a local newspaper (possibly the Keighley News), when they were re-roofing Addingham Church. Sometime in the early fifties, he joined my mother at the Trico, as the Maintenance Joiner. During the last three or four years of his short life (he was in his 57th year, in 1971, when he died) he worked for Magnet Joinery, near Cox's Garage, knocking window-frames together - piece work, so the possibility of more brass, took him there. Again, I think all but Magnet (now at Crossflatts, I believe) long since ceased to exist.

I must also add my own employment record in Keighley, before and during my years at university. I had a paper round for most of the years I was at KBGS (Barwick's Newspapers & Tobacconist, near the junction between Aireworth and Bradford Roads). I also worked for the Post Office at Christmas for five consecutive years (great fun!). I had a short spell one summer digging graves at Keighley Cemetery, but gave that up (too much like hard work) when the opportunity of working with my dad at the Trico came up (end of first year at uni). At the end of my second year, I worked as a bus conductor for West Yorkshire, after qualifying (at Clippies College, Harrogate) for a PSV badge), then in my final year at uni I worked on the railway, most of the time as crossing-keeper at the already closed Damems station. Of all of these places of work, I think only the Cemetery is still in business - but a dead-end job, with few prospects.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58

Current location (optional) Keswick, Cumbria

Trico made wiper blades, didn’t they? Or have I got the wrong Trico? There’s a Wikipedia article about the company, but it doesn’t mention the Keighley plant. They were subject to controversy in 1976 for refusing to pay women workers the same as men. There was a strike, following which the company relented. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trico#History

Just remembered some more employers: Keighley Lifts, BDA (Bradford Dyers’ Association), and YEB (the electricity board). Brian Exley used to tell of a summer job he has with YEB. The pay in 1964 was fifteen quid a week. The guy who worked in the pay office was missing both arms following an electrical accident. His prostheses has pincers for hands, and his party trick was to get someone to flick their cigarette ash onto the counter top and he would pick it up with his pincers and deposit it in the ashtray.

Yes Allan, you got the wrong Trico. The Keighley Company, which derived its name from 'The Rustless Iron Company' is apparently still in existence at Crossflatts. See http://www.trico-ve.co.uk/

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1937-1944

Current location (optional) Huntingdon

Thanks David! Yes, I had forgotten it stood for The Rustless Iron Co!