Clubs and after work

“They’ve always been big on t’social side” (Jean)

Rowntrees organised a variety of clubs and after-work activities for its employees. These ranged from youth clubs, to theatre groups and woodwork classes.

However, most of these activities were simply not designed with working mothers, wives or single carers in mind. Whilst some remember playing sports such as netball as a single girl, the activities, Margaret recalls, “sort of went out of the window” upon marriage and having a family. Films shown at lunchtimes, dances and day trips organised by departments were more popular, as Audrey describes in the sound clip.

After retirement, many women joined in Rowntree-organised activities whilst they remained in good health. As Alice remembers, “When we finished work they started all these things, you know, where you could go to icing classes, dancing classes...” Women receiving a Rowntree pension automatically became members of the Pensioners Club, helping them to keep in touch with former work mates and keeping them up-to-date with activities on offer.