Mr Gilbert Croft

Mr Croft worked for Smith and Philips' for 41 years, starting straight from school at the age of 14. He began as an office boy on a wage of 12 shillings a week but was disappointed on the first week when he lined up to receive his wage from the boss Mr Sam Smith - he had only worked three days and so got only half a week's wage. He went on to work in the main office processing orders and seeing to stock levels and became an office manager in 1939.

He remembers that it was common for many of the weavers to cycle home and back for their lunch everyday, even those who lived in North Leigh and the villages.