Photographs help bring the Ronson story to life. Many of the pictures here come from the private collections of former Ronson workers and their families, including some of the people we interviewed. Alongside them are portraits and photographs from the Ronson Reunited event in May 2026, taken by photographer Julian Winslow.
Click any photo to see a larger version, or choose a gallery.
Assembly lines from above © Stanley Whittington
Man at work bench
Close up of colleagues
16 colleagues from the Service Department
Some of the machinery
Three men working at benches
Dennis Cousins on factory floor - Possibly the Leatherhead branch
Dennis Cousins on factory floor - Possibly the Leatherhead branch
A collection of Ronson colleagues on Strike, on picket line
Working at the machine
Six colleagues by the No Smoking sign
Three colleagues by the fire notice
Four colleagues by the butane shut-off
Plates of party food on the shop floor
Christine and others on the line
Sue Tout by the line
Ronson's colleagues
Cards and gifts for a colleague
Woman at her factory work station
At work stations on factory floor
Break time in the sun
Break time in the sun
On the factory floor
Two women at work on factory shop floor
Smoking cigarettes was permitted on the shop floor
Woman factory worker
On the factory floor
On the factory floor
A woman factory worker at her work station
Factory workers in the kitchen
Woman factory worker operating a machine
Two young colleagues having their break
Ann Mikich and colleague
Workers at desk on the shop floor
Drinks at Christmas time
Christmas on the shop floor
Ronson colleagues
Christmas time at Ronson
Working on the shop floor
Woman at her factory work station on the factory floor
Outside the Ronson factory
Drinks at Christmas time
Working on the production line at Christmas time
Packing the Ronson blow torch kit
Having fun on the factory floor
Fancy dress at Ronson's
Sue and Janet, veil and L plate
Sue and Janet laughing, pulling hands
Pay advice card and envelope from 1964
Image of Crystal News magazine published August 1967
Image of Crystal News magazine published1967
Portrait of Ronson Miss Beautiful Eyes on table with Ronson Lighter
Photo of clipping of Ronson Miss Beautiful Eyes
Isle of Wight County press job advert 1974
The Ronson Seascape carnival float
Rear view of Ronson Seascape carnival float going down Newport High Street
Newspaper clipping from 1975 of crowning of Newport Carnival Queen
Newport Carnival Queens including Gillian Cocker and Edwin Chadwick
Newport Carnival Queens including Gillian Cocker and Edwin Chadwick with Ronson colleagues
Ancillary angels celebrating Christmas in 1974 or 1975
Ancillary girls celebrating Christmas in 1974 or 1975
Ancillary Allsorts fancy dress group shot
Christmas celebrations 1980
Christmas party at Ronson's
Ancillary Wing' prisoner costumes
Ancillary staff as prisoners, 'Inert Prison' signs
Fancy dress: snowman, witch and clown
Fancy dress: clown mask and floral shirt
Fancy dress: grey wig and broom
Christmas fancy dress
Christmas at Ronson's
Fancy dress at a party
Ancillary women as St Trinian's schoolgirls
Woman in a tinsel halo
Ronson's Open Prison fancy dress
Christmas hugs in paper crowns
Partygoers in fancy dress
Christmas time at Ronson
Fancy dress
Fancy dress
Christmas kisses
Fancy dress
Socialising at Christmas
Socialising at Christmas
Christmas at Ronson's
Christmas time at Ronson
Six women at Christmas party
Christmas at Ronson's
Colleagues wearing novelty hats
A kiss at the party
Children at a party table
Party food in the factory
Four men on a pub bench
A couple close on the pub seat
Glass in hand, patterned jumper
Arm round a friend on the pub seat
Dancing hand in hand
Squeezed in close at the drinks table
Five friends smiling over drinks
The darts team
Raising glasses at a crowded table
Dart medal front side
Dart medal with an inscription 1980
Receiving darts champion trophy
A bride with colleagues in work coats
Paper streamers round their necks
Chatting round a small pub table
Pink dress and turquoise ruffles
Arms round each other
Pulling a wide-eyed face
Laughing with a glass of wine
Eight round a dining table
Five friends in the pub
Two friends posing close
Three friends side by side
Three at a pub table, one smoking
Three at a pub table with wine
Six friends by the cigarette machine
Two friends laughing, close-up
Huddled together in a dim room
Laughing round a garden table
Two women raising a glass
A smile in a black strappy top
Bride with colleagues
Six on a pub bench seat
Socialising after work on the Ryde Queen
A night out, one in a white veil
June Brett's wedding
Socialising after work
Visiting a colleague's garden in Porchfield during lunch time
Redundancy payment form
Reference letter, 17 June 1981
Redundancy advice sheet
Redundancy letter, page 2
Redundancy letter, 22 May 1981
Simon interviewing a former Ronson workers, Marlene and Joe Harkness
Simon interviewing a former Ronson worker, Sheree Ash
Simon interviewing a former Ronson worker
Simon interviewing a former Ronson worker
Simon interviewing a former Ronson worker
Simon interviewing a former Ronson worker, Julie Cocker
Simon interviewing a former Ronson worker
Photos sparked lots of memories on the day
A moment of quiet reflection for Joe Harkness
Old friends catching up
Papped!
Sharing memories
Former colleagues looking over the photos together
Former colleagues looking over the photos together
Sharing memories
Marlene and Joe Harkness
Looking through old photos
Marlene Harkness shares memories
There were around 90 photos for visitors to look at
Old friends reunited
Tracy welcomes former Ronson workers
Warm smiles between old friends
Tracy welcomes former Ronson workers
Chatting with Tracy over a mug of tea
Old friends catching up
Marlene Irving brought along a collection of memorabilia
Lots of stories were shared at the event
Some former workers brought along old photo albums
Old friends catching up after 40+ years
Old friends catching up after 40+ years
Hearing stories from former Ronson workers
Some former workers brought along old photo albums
Some of the photos sparked surprise memories
Some of the photos sparked surprise memories
The photos brought back many happy memories
So many memories sparked by the reunion
Marlene Irving and Gillian Cocker share memories
A group shot of old friends reunited
A group shot of old friends reunited
Happy memories sparked by the photos
Our volunteer Alpha who helped on the day
Many stories were shared on the day
Many stories were shared on the day
Many stories were shared on the day
Ronson's Reunited poster in the window
Old friends catching up
Refreshments were offered to all who popped in
Signing in at the welcome table
Sharing memories around the photo tables
Looking through the old photos
Sharing happy memories
The yellow payslips brought back memories
A leaving card sparks memories
Former workers share memories
A busy room full of conversation
Old friends catching up
More than 90 photos were printed out for visitors to look through
More than 90 photos were printed out for visitors to look through
Tracy explains what is planned for the project
Old friends catching up
Looking through photos
Simon meeting a former Ronson worker
Old friends enjoying the reunion
More stories being shared
Smiles all round in the group
More stories being shared
A warm reunion
Remember that time when ....
Writer, Anmarie Bowler, soaks in the atmosphere
Lots of stories were shared at the reunion
Some visitors brough in their old photos
Tracy signs in a former worker
Sheree shared stories from her time at Ronson
Patricia and friends looking through the photo albums
Patricia and friends looking through the photo albums
Studying the historic photos
A former ancillary worker shares memories
More stories shared during the day
Swapping phone numbers
Remember when....
Many happy memories sparked during the event
Almost 100 photos were on display - with the aim of jogging people's memories
Almost 100 photos were on display - with the aim of jogging people's memories
Sharing more memories
Looking through the 90+ historic photos
Marlene shares memories of her dad's time at Ronson (Stanley Whittington)
Oh yes, I remember that!
Sharing memories
Former workers inspecting the lighters
Mary Read, Pat Kennedy and Gillian Cocker looking at photos
Almost 100 photos were on display - with the aim of jogging people's memories
Former Ronson colleagues looking through the photos
Admiring the memorabilia brought in by Marlene Irving
Admiring the memorabilia brought in by Marlene Irving
Former Ronson workers looking through a photo album
Former Ronson workers looking at photos
Former Ronson workers looking at photos
Simon chats to a former Ronson worker and her husband
Photos sparking forgotten memories
Photos sparking forgotten memories
Photos sparking forgotten memories
Former Ronson workers looking at photos
Former Ronson workers looking at photos
Former Ronson workers looking at photos
Former Ronson workers gather for the Ronson Reunited event
Former Ronson workers gather for the Ronson Reunited event
Photos sparking forgotten memories
Mary Read showing her Ronson table lighter
Former workers arriving at the Ronson Reunited event
Marlene Irving sharing stories with Sally and Simon
Former workers looking through the historic photos
Former workers looking through the historic photos
Pat Kennedy showing Sally the lighters
Former Ronson workers looking at photos
Former Ronson workers sharing memories with Sally
Former Ronson workers sharing memories with Sally
Attendees mingling around the photo table
Former Ronson workers looking at photos
Ronson pen, lighters and photo of Stanley Whittington who worked at Ronson. Memorabilia brought in by Marlene Irving (Stan's daughter)
Boxed Ronson lighter with service department card brought in by Marlene Irving (Her father Stanley Whittington collected them during his time at Ronson)
Ronson sign in front of a lighter collection brought in by Marlene Irving (Her father Stanley Whittington collected them during his time at Ronson)
Visitors around the Ronson memorabilia display brought in by Marlene Irving (Her father Stanley Whittington collected them during his time at Ronson)
Envelope addressed to Ronson International
Ronson hairdryers and lighters brought in by Marlene Irving (Her father Stanley Whittington collected them during his time at Ronson)
Ronson hairdryer, framed photos and a selection of lighters brought in by Marlene Irving (Her father Stanley Whittington collected them during his time at Ronson)
Ronson hairdryers, carrier bag and Picnicker stove sign brought in by Marlene Irving (Her father Stanley Whittington collected them during his time at Ronson)
Pile of prints of old Ronson photos for attendees
Former workers looking through the historic photos
Colour portrait of Gillian Cocker
Colour portrait of Sheree Ash
Colour portrait of Sue Tout
Group portrait of Flame Keepers interviewees - Sheree Ash, Sue Tout, Julie Cocker, Patricia Kennedy and Gillian Cocker
Colour portrait of Julie Cocker
Colour portrait of Patricia Kennedy