大象传媒

It was in the days of peggy tubs and mangles, black leading with 'zebra' polish, and Flanagan and Allen that our story begins:-

Margaret was a good looking young woman with a handsome husband and a bouncing babe in arms. They lived in a little back to back in a small coal mining village in Yorkshire.
Happy they were ... Margaret cooked and cleaned, washed nappies and amused the baby. Whilst Fred got his shift in at the pit, called at the bookies for a bet on the gee gees, then into the club for a pint before going home where Margaret had his dinner waiting. But things were to change ...
The brown envelope landed on the mat, conscription papers, Fred was to join all the others 'Fighting for King and Country'.
"Eeeh what will I do while you're away luv? asked Margaret.
But Fred had a bright idea (he didn't get them often)...
"Don't worry lass, tha can gu to are Gertie's over in Saltaire, It'll do you and the babbie a world of good."
"Oh I, while you're theer she'll be able to get thee a job, am sure o' that".

So whilst Fred went off to fight them Nazis, Margaret went off to earn some brass in the woollen mills of Saltaire.
Once settled in with her sister-in-law Margaret decided to follow Fred's advice, after all there were plenty of 'em to look after the babbie and they did need the money.
After chatting with them that knew best Margaret walked into the offices at the Mill and asked for a job.
Mind you Margaret wasn't daft, "I want a job on't spinning" she said to the overman, "I'm an 'ard worker and I'm quick at learning, so it shouldn't be long before I'm earning the top rate.
The other lasses liked Margaret at first, they were friendly towards her, but this soon wore off when they realised that she was going to be earning more than them.

"Who does she think she is"? they'd say
"She doesn't even come from round here"
"They say her husband's in the army, if you ask me there's something fishy going on with her"

Margaret carried on regardless, with the money she earned she was able to pay her way and put a bit to one side, she'd never been so well off, War or nor War, without Fred spending it in the bookies Margaret was well away. But she did miss her Fred and wrote to him often, telling him all the news, how the babbie was growing and all about the lasses at the Mill.
One morning the postman called and delivered Margaret a letter from Fred, well the gist of it was that he would be coming home on leave the following week and he couldn't wait to see her and the babbie. Margaret was excited at the news, she was also relieved that Fred was ok, she had to make arrangements to get back to South Elmsall to their little back to back, get the place aired through for Fred's return.

But... there was a little problem. Only the day before the foreman had called everybody together and told them ...
"The orders we have must be finished before the end of the month. Consequently ... No one can ask for leave or take time off sick, if they do they mustn't expect a job when they get back.
Margaret went into work the following day, she tried explaining her case to the overman, but he didn't want to know. "All I can say lass is you go on yer leave, and all you'll have here on yer return is yer cards!"
What could she do? Margaret returned to South Elmsall the following weekend. She met Fred off the train and they spent a lovely week together. Eeeh it were like a second honeymoon, (well it would have been if they'd had a first).
The day after Fred's departure Margaret made her way back to Saltaire, what a journey, with a babbie in tow as well. She spent a nice weekend with her sister-in-law and the rest of the family, laughing and joking about fred's antics in the army and remembering the happy days of their youth.

On the Monday morning Margaret went back to work ... bold as brass she walked into the Mill and took up her place at her machine. Well you could have cut the air with a knife! But Margaret took no notice and started her work.
It wasn't until nearly tea break when he noticed her ... "and WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING HERE" he yelled.
Margaret had just finished adjusting her headscarfe, she took a good sup of tea and looking the overman straight in the eye she said...
"What do you think I'm doing, I'm here to work and that's what I'm doing, and let me tell you I'm meking a good job of it an all".
"Right Madam!. came his reply "Into Mr Braithwaite's office right now!".
Margaret started to worry, what would she do now if she got the sack? She followed the overman through the Mill until they came to a glass partition, behind which sat Mr Braithwaite's secretary, who was busy typing as they approached.
She looked up, "what did you want Harold, Mr Braithwaite's very busy this morning, is it important?.
"I'll say it's important" came his reply.
"I only need to give this insubordinate creature her cards. I'd say that's important, wouldn't you Miss Hargreaves?.
"Right, you'd better come this way then" she answered.

Margaret and Harold the overman were shown into a small waiting area outside Mr Braithwaiter's office. "Right, you can go in now" said the lovely Miss Hargreaves.
Once through the door Mr Braithwaite who was an overpowering figure of a man, in his smart tweed suit and shinny brown shoes, dismissed Harold the overman.
"I don't think there's need for you to stay Harold, I'd like to hear Margaret's version of events first, I'll talk to you later."
With this Harold, obviously 'put out' left the room.
Mr Braithwaite was an astute man, he didn't get around the Mill as much as he would like to but he had a good insight into what was going off. He'd encountered Harold's bullying tactics before ... 'Who did he think he was, throwing his weight about as if he owned the place ... if he's such a tough man why didn't he join up and risk his life like thousands of other men have, to fight for their country?.
As he pondered on these thoughts Mr Braithwaite realised that Margaret was still standing in front of him, looking rather worried.
"Oh please sit down Margaret, now tell me what's been going off".
Margaret began to tell Mr Braithwaite the whole story, at first she stumbled on her words, but as she realised that Mr Braithwaite was listening with interest she bacame more confident.
"Ooh I've really enjoyed working here Mr Braithwaite, I'm not scared of hard work. In fact working has helped me to stop worrying so much about Fred, out their doing his bit, I feel like by working here I'm doing my bit for the Country as well." As Margaret finished her story she realised that Mr Braithwaite had not interrupted her once, she paused and waited for him to speak...
"Well Margaret lass I've got to hand it to you. I think that folk like you and your husband should be applauded. You're doing all you can to keep this Country safe for the future generations. If only a bit younger I'd 'ave signed up myself. So Margaret, there's only one more thing I need to say to you, and that is "Get back to work lass, we've orders to finish!"
As Margaret went back to her machine she was met by the sound of cheers and applause from her work mates!
"Good on yer Margaret!" "At last old Harold the overman has met his match, maybe he'll stop his bullying ways now".

Well of course this story has a happy ending!

Margaret continued to work hard for the next few months, but do you remember us telling you of Margaret and Fred's second hooneymoon' well all I can say is that Fred went away with one daughter and came home to two!

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