Joyce Holloway, Myrtle Gill and Dorothy Hallet became friends when working together in ‘The Welwyn’, a factory within the Royal Worcester factory set up during WW2. The girls worked on various processes involved in making ceramic tubes used as resistors in radar equipment. The work was hard, and the hours were long. The Welwyn factory was dirty, noisy, smelly and dusty  – the girls had to have regular health checks and drink a glass of milk a day. The Welwyn ladies, recorded when they were in their 80s, were proud of their contribution to the war effort. They also recall their social life, dances in the canteen and making decorations for Christmas parties in the Welwyn.

EXTRACT Working in the Welwyn – a noisy smelly place. Duration 1.42

Copyright Museum of Royal Worcester

You can listen to the Welwyn Ladies’ full interview by clicking on the YouTube video below. You can also download a PDF with a detailed summary of the Welwyn Ladies’ interview via the download button below.