RAISING A GLASS TO CHRISTMAS PAST BRIGG STYLE

Brigg Blog was interested to see a post by Brigg Town Football Club about a Saturday night disco held recently in the Hawthorns clubhouse.
The club said any "works parties" were welcome to pop in to enjoy cheap beer and music.
That reminded us of years past when groups of workers from Falcon Cycles, and others, could be found in Brigg pubs having a few drinks after knocking off work for the final time ahead of December 25.
Falcon and British Sugar were major employers in Brigg decades ago, as were Layne's Garage and Spring's jam factory which both organised formal Christmas get-togethers.
But with most Brigg businesses being much smaller, they usually had to make do with a few drinks in a local pub, with the Black Bull, White Hart, Nelthorpe Arms and the Queen's Arms being popular choices, together with the Angel Hotel.
An exception, in the early 1980s, was the Lincolnshire & South Humberside Times newspaper which hired an upstairs room above Dunham's shop, on Bridge Street. That only happened once or twice, and our total staff at 57 Wrawby Street back then was only around 10.
Not many years ago there was a collective Christmas get-together aimed at small businesses in Brigg Town Council's Angel Suite - making the arrangements much simpler for interested groups.
Christmas bonuses for workers are not what they were years ago - for various reasons.
At the Lincs Times, in the early 1980s, we received a full week's pay at Christmas as a bonus, which was greatly appreciated.
Inside was a paper note from the company directors thanking us for our efforts during the year and expressing best wishes for Christmas.

PICTURED: A snowy December scene on Bridge Street, Brigg,  a few years ago with the White Hart pub (centre left) offering a warm haven for those in festive mood.