Recording and transcript of Elizabeth O’Neill in conversation with Rory Stride in June 2018. Elizabeth O’Neill worked at Templeton’s carpet factory from 1963 to 1967. She later went on to work for South Australian Brush Company (1978-1989) and Avex Electronics (1989-2003).
[00:00:00] Introductions.
[00:00:11] Talks about place of birth and childhood.
[00:00:51] Talks about time at Templeton’s Carpet Factory (1963-1967), tasks for each role in the company, creation of big pieces for the British Embassy in Paris, Templeton’s social club, working conditions, and supervisor and management team.
[00:28:35] Describes reasons for leaving employment at Templeton’s and women’s lives after they were married.
[00:30:50] Makes a brief reference to her work for South Australian Brush Company between 1978 and 1989.
[00:32:34] Talks about time at Avex Electronics from 1989 to 2003, describes job training at Cambuslang College, working conditions and the lack of unions, agency workers.
[00:35:48] Discusses memories of working at Templeton’s, the closure of the factory in June 1975 and the redundancy of staff.
[00:41:40] Tells the story of a recent visit to the Templeton Street building with a student from Glasgow School of Art who had some memorabilia from the Templeton factory e.g. clock-in card and staff magazine.
[00:46:03] Discusses the future of the Templeton Street building and comments on different ways to remember the history of Templeton’s.
[00:47:44] Summarises final memories of working for Templeton’s and the place it had in Glasgow’s history.
[00:49:22] Compares working conditions in the different companies she worked in throughout her career.
[00:50:44] Talks about being made redundant from the South Australian Brush Company in 1989 and Avex Electronics in 2003.
[00:52:51] Discusses the study of Glasgow’s industrial history with regard to women.
[00:56:40] Discusses her reasons for joining Templeton’s.
[00:57:53] Interview concludes.
