'CREATOR OF THE DONKEY JACKET'

George Key had many accomplishments amidst the business world. He was a pioneer in improved working conditionsfor factory workers & in new methods of business. He is probably most famous for inventing the 'Donkey Jacket' in 1888.

His father, John Key came to Rugeley in 1860 as a tailor, although he had previously been a shoemaker in Eccleshall. He set up as a draper in Lower brook Street. George went to Liverpool to learn business studies and in 1888 he set up business himself on the 2nd floor of his fathers premises.

George Key recognised the need for stronger warmer clothing for the men maintaining the donkey pumping engines and persuaded a firm to produce a double ridge cord cloth for him. He soon followed with extra strong trousers, making 5,000 made to measure pairs in one year.

In 1904-05 he moved to a purpose built sewing factory in the now named 'Keystone Lane'.  During his career he was very forward moving in business matters and developed a mail order business with self measuring forms, and in 1912 introduced weekly conferences with four of his key workers. He also put into practice a time and motion study to increase productivity, introduced afternoon tea breaks, and customers in 1913 were also able to pay by installments. All these procedures, although commonplace today were a very new idea in those days!

George was also a prominent Congregationalist. a deacon at heron Court and he wrote the book 'A History Of Local Congregationalists' . George was only the third local resident to own a steam powered car and was councillor between 1897-1900, leaving local politics within a few years due to his frustration at the lack of support for his forward thinking ideas.

He died at Larkholme in 1921.