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Elsie Cork's Recollections of the Dunston CWS Soap Works.
Elsie Cork, nee Muncaster, began work at the Soap Works in Dunston when she was eighteen years old. Her Mother, who was friendly with Mrs. Baxter, the wife of the Manager, managed to get her the job in the hope that Elsie would not have to go into the forces. However, in 1942 she joined the ATS
At the Soap Works Elsie did a variety of jobs, from waiting on the tables in the canteen, working in the "dry soap" department, to canvassing and finally, because the men had been called up, to checking the supplies going onto the lorries.
She remembers being paid 18 shillings a week for the 7.30am to 5.30pm job. There was a ten minute break in the morning and an hour for lunch. In bad snowy weather she would walk from Whickham to Dunston, leaving home at 6.30am.
At the Soap Works there were three departments:- the Dry Soap (washing powder such as Solvo and Paddy), the Frame Department (household soap) and the scented soap and perfumery department.
The canvassers went around the area with free samples of soap. They had a bag over their shoulders and wore a white coat and a white beret. A van would follow them with supplies. Elsie remembers often being invited into homes for a cup of tea and even for bacon and eggs!