Items relating to Annie Speak

Scope and Content

Small collection of material relating to Annie Speak including a press cutting and photograph relating to Needlers where she worked and a certified copy of her birth certificate used as proof for age as required by the Factory and Workshop Act of 1901. Also includes photograph portraits of Annie, her mother and her husband and a photograph of the silver plater presented to Annie by Needlers on her marraige.

Administrative / Biographical History

Annie Speak was born in 1902 to Ellen and Charles with the family living at Beech Avenue, Convent Lane and then subsequently at Longden Street and Paisley Street. In 1916 Annie left school at the age of 14 (see U DX374/1) to work for Smith and Nephew producing sterile dressings for the war. It is believed that after the war she then secured a job at Needlers as a sweet girl in the packing department. Annie married Harry Butterfield in Novmeber 1924 six months after the death of her mother Ellen and as was the tradition at that time she was presented with a silver plated pedestal fruit dish.

Annie died in 1969.

Access Information

Access will be granted to any accredited reader

Custodial History

Deposited by Valerie Shrubb who was Annie's grand-daughter

Related Material

Records of Needlers Ltd., 1863-1993 [Ref U DNE]

Needlers Ltd, Chocolate Makers and Confectioners, 1913-1954 [Ref U DX339]