Stories by Margery Kenyon
Girls of the Fifties National Award winning Story
Margery in 50s Style
I left school on a Friday in October, 1955. I was fifteen years
old. Three days later I was being trained as a glove machinist. It was
hard at first because I had never used an industrial machine before and
was worried that the needle would catch my fingers. I also got backache
because I was not used to sitting for long periods of time in the same
position. But after a certain length of time I was able to make a pair
of gloves which was not easy, but I was so pleased that I had learned a
trade.
My employers were warm, friendly and helpful, and made sure we got
plenty of breaks and a long lunch time. It was a family run firm in
Chorlton–on–Medlock in Manchester and was housed in a bright and airy
building. The radio played all day and the girls who worked there sang
to the music. I mixed well with the girls and was happy.
There was one particular girl, called Jean, who I used to see in our
break time. We also had a chat and got on so well together. We became
firm friends, which we still are to this day after fifty-three years.
Jean and I went to lots of places together: cinemas, dancing and Belle-Vue.
There were quite a few cinemas in the area we lived in: the Shaftsburys,
Kings, Queens, the Apollo; and also the main cinemas in the centre of
Manchester. There was lots of choice. We used to go to the cinema twice
weekly seeing all the latest film stars. My favourites were Burt
Lancaster, Rory Calhoun, John Derek and many more. There was some great
films. We also used to go dancing at the Plaza in the centre of
Manchester, where Jimmy Saville was the DJ. It was a popular place with
teenagers at the time. I learned to jive there, a favourite dance of the
period.
Belle-Vue was such a fun place. There was lots of entertainment for
everyone; my friend and I especially liked the Bobs. It was very high
and scary but once you had been on it you always went back again. It was
80 feet high, a considerable distance to plunge down!
We also spent a lot of our time in the local Milk Bar; these too were
very popular in the 1950s with teenagers. They had a jukebox, which
would blast out all the latest songs, e.g. Bill Haley, Johnnie Ray,
Buddy Holly, Billy Daniels and lots more singers of that era.
The clothes from the 50s I loved, and the hairstyles too. Jean and I
thought we were the bee's knees when we used to wear our stiletto heels,
seamed stockings and tight skirts. You could only walk a few steps at a
time but all the girls wore them then.
We wore our hair in a bouffant style and also put it in pin curls with
the use of clips. The style was great when combed out. I sometimes wore
my hair in a ponytail with a fringe, and I was told I looked like a
certain film star of the Fifties, and Jean a 1930s film star. I think we
really believed that at the time.
These fun times went on for a couple of years. Then Jean met a boy and
started serious courting, and we went our separate ways. We lost track
of each other, and then I heard she had emigrated to Australia. I didn’t
see her again for another 37 years. In 2003 she got in contact with me
and I was over the moon.
She came to visit me and she is still the same beautiful looking girl
from all of those years ago. She has invited me to visit her in
Australia. I have never travelled that far before, but I will most
certainly make the effort to go there.
By Margery Kenyon