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Kids cotton on to the good old days

Alice McKeegan
1/12/2007

IT’S approaching the time of year when youngsters from across Rochdale start entering the festive spirit and preparing for their annual trip to the pantomime.

It’s an age-old tradition and almost 50 years ago, nearly 300 children who were ‘junior Dunlopians’ were doing exactly the same.

The majority of their parents worked at Dunlop Cotton Mills in Royle Road, Castleton – once the world’s largest cotton mill.

The outing was organised by the company as a thank you for their hard work throughout the year.

The youngsters eagerly awaited their visit to the Empire Theatre in Oldham to see Babes in the Wood and, one Saturday afternoon on 3 January 1959, their patience paid off and they were treated to a mesmeric performance.

They assembled at the mill and boarded a convoy of specially chartered Corporation buses for the short journey. En route the children sang their favourite songs and shared jokes.

One of the excited party was Christine Judd, nee Collier. Her father John Collier worked at the site and contacted the Observer to recall his memories of the trip.

He said: “I remember it clearly. We always used to take the children out at Christmas and we decided that we’d take them to a pantomime that year instead of having a traditional Christmas party.

“It was quite hectic and a busy day but the children enjoyed the occasion and we were very pleased with the numbers who attended.

“My daughter Christine was only young at the time but she enjoyed it too.

“She’s now 52 years old and I think she can still remember it.

“At the theatre, each child received sweets and chocolate and ice cream was served at the interval. It was a great day.”

Six youngsters even managed to put in a brief appearance on stage and joined popular comedian Joe Crosbie for a song.

The event was recorded in a special supplement which was issued to employees.

However, the following year on Wednesday 3 February, disaster struck when a fire ripped through the factory.

Not only did it destroy a large part of the mill causing several million pounds worth of damage, but it also claimed the life of one of its employees, Charles Watson.

The factory reopened and £1.3 million was invested in the plant in 1969 but it eventually closed its doors for the last time in 1981.