Memories of life as a mill worker in Bradford were shared at a reunion.

The gathering was organised by Little Germany theatre company Freedom Studios, which is making a production based on real experiences of people who contributed to the city’s once-thriving textile industry.

Former twister Nellie Jowett, 84, her sister Eunice Sutcliffe and their friend Zene Mozil joined scores of former mill workers enjoying tea at the Ukrainian Social Club in Legrams Lane, Lidget Green.

Mrs Jowett said: “We started work at Drummond’s when we were 14 and we were there until we got married. All our family worked there together, four brothers and three sisters.

“We’ve got fond memories of working there, it was a happy time. We made lots of friends and used to have nights out together.

“It was very noisy at the mill, you had to stay at your machine but we used to shout across to our friends.

“We thought it would be nice to see other people who worked at the mills.”

Mrs Jowett left the mill aged 21 when she married Tom, who also worked at Drummond’s Mill as an overlooker.

Stories such as that of Mrs Jowett were being recorded to add to the theatre company’s research for its production The Mill – City of Dreams, which will be performed at Drummond’s Mill, Manningham, from March 29 to April 16.

Co-writer and director of the show, Madani Younis, said: “For us it was really important, making a show about the textile industry, that we heard the first hand stories these men and women have. For a lot of them the best part of their working lives was spent in the mills.”

Anne Selka, whose grandfather used to own Drummond’s Mill, met a 93-year-old woman who worked there.

She said: “It’s amazing to meet somebody who knew him. I think this is a positive experience for people who have come, and I’m very interested in what Freedom Studios are doing, I’m happy to be a part of it.”

For more information about the production visit themill-cityofdreams.com.