Terry - As I clearly stated, my dad was a moderate shop steward who actively did his best to negotiate and avoid disruptive action by shop floor 'hot heads'...

Was my dad a management stooge to be ashamed of..???

That's a question I've had to contend with...

But... the factory was family owned by devout Quakers.
They sincerely believed in providing the best 'modern' [post war] conditions possible for their workforce.

New factory & machines, canteen, social club, educational lectures..
a full active community life..
and most importantly, a new build 'model' estate to house them...

This was the job my dad settled down to after national service and getting married.
The Quaker family inspired my dad's confidence and loyalty,
and as a worker and shop steward he proved himself as an asset
from before I was born in the late 50s
to the factories sudden shock closure in the 80s'

This factory estate was a real tangible good example stable friendly society.

Maybe it was an idyllic bubble in an other wise divided and fractious nation...???
The workers could not be blamed for believing they had job security and homes for life....

No coincidence the estate primary school annually sent enough of us on to grammar school in the nearest big town to justify the daily school bus..

Now I look back, I realise as never before how fortunate we were before thatcher...