Harry came to Worcester from South Wales in 1936 aged 14 to work at Royal Worcester. He started as a treadle boy in the cup shop, pushing the treadle for a turner called Bill Lewis. Harry moved into digs with other Welsh lads in Wylds Lane. After a brief spell in the Glost warehouse, he came back to the Cup Shop, where the machines were now powered by electricity. He remembers rats in the department, which were caught in a trap and drowned in the canal. After serving in the Marines during WW2, Harry returned to Royal Worcester as Head Turner. He met his wife Margaret at the factory – she was a handle caster – and they were married in 1951. Harry remained at Royal Worcester until retiring in 1987.

EXTRACT: Harry recalls rats in the Cup Shop Duration 0.47

Copyright Museum of Royal Worcester

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