Nancy Young

Parents courting - father gave mother roses which she kept. Education, was going to be a school teacher, taken exams, but mother couldn’t afford to send her to university. Instead got a job in the Armstrong Whitworth offices, one of the first girls - three women replacing two men and still paid less. Assistant also worked in the cinema. Conditions of work. Big women working on munitions in world war one. Once shut in offices, scary because rats. Had to walk home on Armistice Day as tram drivers celebrating too. Bars near the works lined up pints for men's breakfasts, outside children begged for food. Works paid into Infirmary and dispensary. As Vickers slowly bought up Armstrongs, ended up working in Scotswood and then Gateshead in pneumatic tools office. Holiday in Norway, made friends with hotel owner there.

Location: Newcastle, Arthurs Hill, Elswick, Scotswood
County: Tyne and Wear
AUD2007-27

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