FORMER workers at two prominent Glastonbury tanneries and factories are meeting regularly – on the site of their former workplace.

A monthly Heritage Café, started in September and hosted at the Red Brick Building, sees former employees at Morlands and Bailys gather to chat and share memories.

The gatherings are part of a project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which sees the former sheepskin workers and others come together in a social setting.

Each café has had between 20 and 30 attendees, with both familiar faces and new people coming along, a spokesperson said.

“Often, a visitor will come with a friend or family member – attendance is not limited to former employees and there is always a lot to discover and discuss,” they went on.

“Several visitors have brought along items from their time working in the sheepskin industry, for example old copies of the Morlands Magazine, which always generate lots of conversations and reminiscences.

“Recently, someone brought in an iron bale hook which, he explained, was used to grab bales of wool which were too heavy to pick up otherwise.

“Any items which are donated are recorded and will be kept in a safe archive for future use, display and learning activities.”

Conversation at the Heritage Café is always lively and there are warm drinks and home-made cakes, they added.

Gerald Billing has come to all the Heritage Cafés so far. He completed an apprenticeship at Morlands and went on to work in the raw skin-buying department, later moving from Glastonbury to set up a new Morlands factory in Redruth.

He said “the meetings are getting better each time”, and has persuaded some of his former colleagues to come along.

His friend Roger Bond remembers his time at Morlands fondly, and said: “Looking back, I think what wonderful times they were.”

Marlene Pursey, who worked in the chairman’s office said “the people were my favourite thing at the factory” and that she had met people at the Heritage Café whom she hadn’t seen for years.

Heritage Project co-ordinator, Alison Horgan, said: “Each month we see new people and there are so many interesting conversations that happen. And there’s a lot of laughter too.

“It’s wonderful when people recognise old friends and colleagues and share their memories. It’s great to see the connections between people, and everyone enjoying socialising.”

Carolyn, a volunteer at the café, has noticed the positive impact it is having.

She said: “I’ve seen that people are often quite nervous when they come for the first time, but the transformation is amazing. They leave smiling and relaxed, keen to come back again.”

The café meets on the last Friday of each month between 10am and 12.30pm at the Red Brick Building. The next meeting is on Friday, January 31. All are welcome, whether they have a direct connection to Morlands or Bailys, or whether they are just interested in local history and want to meet a group of friendly and enthusiastic people.

More information is available on the Red Brick Building website at www.redbrickbuilding.co.uk, or via email to heritage@redbrickbuilding.co.uk.