The History of Ruddington Depot
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Dismantling And Disposal
A changing workforce
Many ex-servicemen came to work at the Depot, but according to Bernard Slack, in 1950 few of the work-force lived nearby:
“There were a lot of Nottingham people. They didn’t come in by train. That had finished by then. Barton’s ran a fleet of double deckers for them.”
Job opportunities gradually increased on the Depot, and local school leavers found work there. Other people began to be attracted by the wages on offer, which were in general higher than those paid by local firms. Women finding the family budget limited began to seek work close at hand as their children got older. Full and part-time jobs were available within walking distance at the Depot. No previous experience or skills were necessary for the large number of tedious and unpopular jobs on offer. When women were short of money they were glad to earn some ready cash.
As time went on the proportion of local people who were part of the Depot work force rose. Twenty years after the Depot opened most people who lived in Ruddington knew one or more people who worked there. They were neighbours or friends, fellow members of clubs, societies or other organisations they belonged to. By the beginning of the 1960’s the Depot and the community had drawn closer together, but while large quantities of ammunition remained on the site, security could not be relaxed.
The Story > Chapter 6 > Section 6.06