Tuesday 16th July 2024  

400 miles of narrow fabric - 1959

Loughborough Monitor - 24th April 1959.

The elastic webbing firm of M Wright and Sons Ltd, which has provided jobs for men and women of Quorn for many years, celebrates its centenary next year. From small beginnings the firm has grown over the years until today about 400 miles of narrow fabric are produced each week.

In the two factories, at Quorn and Loughborough, there are 456 employees and 115 outworkers, people who weave the elastic in their own homes. Many Quorn families have long associations with the firm and such families as the Mees and Gambles have provided employees since the beginning.

The present head of the firm, Mr Michael Wright, is a magistrate at Loughborough. One of the longest-serving employees is 72 year old Herbert Whitby, of 76 Barrow Road, who has been there for 55 years. A sample maker, Mr Whitby loves his job. He has seen conditions improve and the great changes made in equipment and building.

Submitted on: 2010-01-14 Submitted by: Kathryn Paterson Artefact ID: 713 Artefact URL: www.quornmuseum.com/display.php?id=713 Print: View artefact in printer-friendly page or just on its own (new browser tab).