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WORKING one’s entire life for one company was not uncommon well into the 1970s.

By this time, all of these pictures had been taken and they show facets of industrial life – affecting work and play, young and old – that are becoming steadily rarer in the context of a single firm.

Huddersfield was dominated by a clutch of giant industries with something of a paternalistic attitude to their employees.

Half a century ago this wasn’t seen as a bad thing either by employers or by the workers. The number of people working for them, and reliant upon them, was often the size of a village.

It was accepted that the likes of ICI, Hopkinson’s, Brook Motors, Holsett’s and David Browns, not to mention many of the big textile mills, should organise parties for employees’ children, sponsor any number of sports teams, finance trips to the seaside, offer apprenticeships, day release schemes, savings clubs and a variety of other benefits in exchange, it could be argued, for the workers’ loyalty and hard effort.

The majority of these pictures are from Jim Wood of Marsh who, in his time at Brown’s, was a keen hockey player, hence the centre spread.

They paint a picture of industrial life that has all but faded from the scene across the country, not just in Huddersfield.

For more nostalgia galleries click here.