Writing - Ysgrifennu
Glover
‘Glover’ is a family musical theatre show currently in development. It's based on a story my beloved Nana Rosa told me about her early years in the city. She worked as a glove maker for a Czechoslovakian businessman living in Cyncoed named Mr Altschul who supplied gloves to M&S and other large retailers. Mr Altschul employed immigrant women as seamstresses. Problems arose when their wages were cut, and as immigrant women, many were afraid to speak out and stand up for themselves in fear of losing their precious jobs. But my fearless Nana Rosa was not going to stand for this. Her war hero father had brought her up to stand up for herself and fight against injustice. She tracked down and convinced her co-workers to unite and form a union. They put down their needles and refused to work until their wages were restored, eventually winning the battle!
I loved hearing this story but always assumed it was exaggerated. I was going through her papers after she died and came across diaries, poems and a newspaper clipping from The News of the World about the glovemaking incident – proving it did happen! I researched the event further, spoke to family members, the Glove Makers Guild and even tracked down a woman (now living in Southampton) who made gloves for the same employer at the same time. I also researched the trade union movement at the time and contemporary protest music – thus Glover was born!
‘Glover’ is a family musical theatre show currently in development. It's based on a story my beloved Nana Rosa told me about her early years in the city. She worked as a glove maker for a Czechoslovakian businessman living in Cyncoed named Mr Altschul who supplied gloves to M&S and other large retailers. Mr Altschul employed immigrant women as seamstresses. Problems arose when their wages were cut, and as immigrant women, many were afraid to speak out and stand up for themselves in fear of losing their precious jobs. But my fearless Nana Rosa was not going to stand for this. Her war hero father had brought her up to stand up for herself and fight against injustice. She tracked down and convinced her co-workers to unite and form a union. They put down their needles and refused to work until their wages were restored, eventually winning the battle!
I loved hearing this story but always assumed it was exaggerated. I was going through her papers after she died and came across diaries, poems and a newspaper clipping from The News of the World about the glovemaking incident – proving it did happen! I researched the event further, spoke to family members, the Glove Makers Guild and even tracked down a woman (now living in Southampton) who made gloves for the same employer at the same time. I also researched the trade union movement at the time and contemporary protest music – thus Glover was born!
Delyth Dirgel
CLICK HERE FOR AMAZON SHOP
A series of notebooks and stationery designed for Welsh Learners
Cyfres o lyfrau nodiadau a deunydd ysgrifennu ar gyfer dysgwyr Cymraeg
CLICK HERE FOR AMAZON SHOP
A series of notebooks and stationery designed for Welsh Learners
Cyfres o lyfrau nodiadau a deunydd ysgrifennu ar gyfer dysgwyr Cymraeg
|
|