Mayoress pays visit to Barbour clothing factory

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The Mayoress of South Tyneside has dipped into her past by visiting the Barbour clothing factory in South Shields.

Mrs Alice Malcolm worked for the prestigious waxed jacket manufacturer more than 50 years ago, although the factory was not located at its present site then.

As a young woman she worked as a machinist making Barbour clothing but left after two years when she became pregnant with her first child.

She came back to have a look around the Barbour factory and indulged the staff with some of her memories from her work with the firm the 1950s.

Mrs Malcolm commented: "In some ways the factory is very different to the one that I used to work in. It's much bigger, the sewing machines, of course, are more modern and many of the processes have now been computerised.

"The thing that remains the same, however, is how friendly and welcoming everyone is. Working for Barbour was one of my favourite jobs and it was fantastic to go back and see for myself how the company has developed.

"I am delighted that they are continuing to do so well and that the wax jackets are still made here in South Shields."

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