THE Museum of Carpet wants to celebrate the industry that helped form the town of Kidderminster by staging two reunion events for carpet workers.

During the 1960’s, the town had 25 companies employing more than 15,000 people in the trade, who earned their living weaving millions of yards of carpet. At least 75 per cent of the population were dependent upon the success of the carpet trade.

But the boom years of the sixties didn’t last, and by the 1970’s competition in the form of cheaper imports; together with changing trends in interior design, saw carpets being overtaken by wooden flooring. The industry shrunk – and now only five mills remain and fewer than 500 people are still employed in the trade.

To celebrate the industry, the museum is staging two reunions for carpet workers to come along and share their memories of the trade.

For anyone employed at Tomkinson’s, they are staging reunion on Friday, April 17, and then on Friday, May 1, they are staging a get together for ex-employees of Woodward Grosvenor. Both reunions will take place at the Museum of Carpet, in Green Street, and will take place between 11am and 1pm.

The reunions are an opportunity to catch up with old colleagues who you may not have seen for a long time and all ex-employees from Tomkinson's and Woodward Grosvenor are welcome.

Caroline Taylor, museum manager, said: “The museum is a celebration of the history and heritage of Kidderminster and the carpet industry.

“We want to create an opportunity to thank all those who were involved in the production of carpet.

“The event will be upstairs in the museum and also as a thank you we shall be giving all those who attend a reduced admission voucher so they can come back and enjoy the museum and be proud of the part they have played in putting Kidderminster on the map.”

Former employees are invited to come along and meet old colleagues and have a chat over a cup of coffee. The museum will be showing a selection of archive films recorded during the industry’s heyday and there will be lots of memorabilia such as company newsletters, brochures and photographs on show on the day.

The reunions are free to attend and you do not need to book a place. For more information contact 01562 69028.