Women’s lives changed irrevocably during the 20th century.
Opportunities came their way that would have been unheard of for their grandmothers, but how hard-won were they?
How, locally, did women respond when war summoned them to service on the home front – in shipyards, at pitheads and in factories – and what did they return to when peace came?
In Women At Work, marking International Women’s Day, retired Shields Gazette journalist Janis Blower looks at the experiences of women in employment across decades of social and industrial evolution, including some who were trailblazers in their field.
Janis, who worked on the Shields Gazette for more than 40 years was described by her editor when she retired in 2015 as a “true ambassador” for the paper and a “voice of authority” on the history of its patch. (HoldtheFrontPage.co.uk)
She continues to speak at local groups and in 2022 received a top cultural award when she became an Honorary Fellow The Customs House Academy.
Her previous talks at the Old Low Light have been extremely well received.