A PHOTOGRAPH printed in Looking Back showed a group of workers whose smiles were hiding a sad secret.

For they were soon to be relocated to other buildings within the Eagley Mills’ complex as their finishing mill closed.

It would mean the end of well-established friendships that had developed over many years.

Stella Atherton got in touch as she was one of the women on the picture showing the smiling faces.

She can be seen third from the left.

Stella, who was called Murgatroyd at the time, used to drop her baby off at the mill nursery before heading for her machine. "We had a brilliant time.

“It was such fun working there.

“I made so many friends and would sometimes see them outside of work.

“It was a very happy place to work and I loved it,” she says.

When the finishing mill closed in 1972 all the workers were given employment at different mills within the complex.

Stella would end up in what was known as the clock mill “because it had a clock on the front”.

“I did about 12 months there before it closed,” says Stella.

In the clock mill Stella worked with the foreman “on the desk” in an administrative role.

Our other photograph shows workers at another of the Eagley Mills who lost their jobs in 1978, although we are not sure which mill within the complex this was.

Perhaps you can help?