The Sugar Girls

Tales of hardship, resilience, and youthful high spirits, woven together to provide a moving insight into a lost way of life, as well as a timeless testament to the experience of being young and female. In the post-war years, thousands of women left school at 15 to work in the bustling factories that lined London’s East End docks. Despite long hours and hard and often hazardous work, factory life afforded exciting opportunities for independence, friendship, and romance before the responsibilities of marriage and motherhood took over. Of all the factories, Tate & Lyle’s were the most sought-after, offering the highest wages and best social life. Many women, coming from tough backgrounds, look back on their time as factory girls as the happiest days of their lives. Here are the real-life stories of these women—from Joan, the feisty tea girl from the slums; to Pat, the fashion-conscious packet-maker with a gambler father; and Edna, the black sugar-packer who took on the male managers and won. Tales of hardship, resilience, and youthful high spirits are woven together to provide a moving insight into a lost way of life, as well as a timeless testament to the experience of being young and female.