TWO NIMBLE WOMEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 95, 23 April 1930, Page 5

TWO NIMBLE WOMEN

BRITAIN’S STEEPLE JILLS SISTERS’ UNUSUAL CALLINC The claim to be Britain’s only ‘‘Mteeplejills’’ is made by two Midland sisters, Florrie and Annie Welton, tho daughters of Mr Thomas P. Welton, of Morslc-y Heath, Tipton, with whom they work each day, clad fti blue dungarees, bright woollen coats, neat cloche hats, and high-heeled shoes. These 4 ‘ steeplejills ” were brought up to their trade, for when they were only babies in arms they were takeu up to dizzy heights by their steeplejack brothers. They could climb almost. before they could walk. When a newspaper representative visited them recently they were at the top of a clock tower W’ith their father, painting the dial of the clock. They laughed when they were asked w’hether they ever felt nervous. ‘‘What is there to be afraid of!” ,Florrie. smiled. The reporter, as a mere landlubber, tried to point out many convincing reasons, but in vain. Asked if he thought women made better steeplejacks—or * 'steeplejills ’ ’ —than menj Mr Weldon said that women were more careful and more pinible than men, but they lacked tho stamina necessary. * ‘Steeplejacks arc born, not made,” said Mr Welton, “and pluck is something that is passed on from parents to children. My daughteTs* grandfather, brothers and uncle have been steeplejacks, and during the war their mother and an aunt even took a hand in the work.’’