Don’t be late on Monday
by Mark Ashfield
126 pages, illustrated throughout
Breedon Books 2004 £9.99
ISBN 1 85983 425 6

This is the story of life on the factory floor of one of Nottingham’s smaller lace factories from 1936-1959, long after the great days of the lace industry. The author joined as an office lad and worked for the firm, except for his war service years until it was closed down, by which time he was ‘management’. He then joined the parent company and retired in 1984.

Peggoty’s, the cover name given to the firm, was probably located on Canal Street and certainly backed onto the canal. It was small enough apparently for most workers to know each other. Through the eyes and the pen of the author many of these workers come over as ‘characters’ with their habits and mannerisms well recorded.

Life was tough for them, poorly paid and with few facilities at work. There was however great camaraderie within working hours although few workers appeared to mix and mingle after work. The Works Summer Outing pre-war and the Christmas Party were highlights of the year, usually well supported and eagerly anticipated.

In spite of the hard grind hardly any workers took days off, often turning up for work when not fully fit – in the words of the book ‘..in the hard world of piece rates a living could only be made by steadily slogging it out.’ There was a loyalty to the firm and to the job in hand.

The end of Peggoty’s came suddenly, although it was apparent that the firm had been losing money for some time. The work force dispersed, some into retirement with a little financial handout, some to other lace firms and some to the parent company.

The book’s title comes from one of the ‘characters’ in the days of Saturday morning working. As his fellow workers trooped off out of the factory at lunchtime there came his clarion call ‘Don’t be late on Monday.’

This book should appeal to those who want to look beyond the bosses and the buildings of the lace trade, to share the banter and good humour (usually) that helped to ease the lot of those who worked hard producing lace for little reward.

Ken Brand
December 2004

 

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