Many of the workers remained in the area, including Jo Woolridge.

“There was a camaraderie. We had good times,” he said.

“I lived down the street and we used to ride bikes together.”

He said he offered the modeling training after the company decided to use its staff to market its products rather than paying professionals.

“We would do that when buyers came,” he said.

“They made me a pair of leather trousers, but when it came to climbing the stairs, I couldn’t do them because there was nothing wrong with them,” he added.

Ms Woolridge said she made lifelong friends at the factory.