Thanks

Although this book is a complete fiction, I acknowledge and give thanks to the many women who so generously contributed their time and experience of the industry – some from more than sixty years ago – so that I might get it right. They include:

Iris Idellier – Portsmouth; Mrs K. Godden – Bristol, Chilcott & Williams; Miss Florrie Allnutt – Portsmouth, Leethams Twilfit factory; Mrs B. Appleby – Tyne and Wear, Marina Corset factory; Mrs Mary Griffin – Milton, Twilfit; Mrs N. Wandby – Copnor, Sultan Road factory; Mrs B. Emmett – Copnor; Mrs S. Bailey – Farlington, All Saints Road factory; Mrs V. M. Head (Alder) – Bideford (father owned Alder’s Corset factory); Mrs Nellie McCann, her father, mother and great aunt – Gosport, Allens factory; Mrs D. Ramage – Southbourne, Emsworth, Weingartens Ltd; Mrs Doris Smith (Stapleton) – Gosport, Leethams factory; Mrs Jackie Wilson – Havant, Twilfit; Mrs I. P. Mapletoft – Nottingham, Twilfit; Mrs P. Loader – Portchester; Margaret Stevens’ mother; Mrs Hoad (Connie Stoner) – Havant, ACTA factory; Marjorie Jermy (Townley) – Portsmouth, Regent Street & Mile End factory; Mrs Elsie Marland – worked in administration; Barbara Avis – Bedhampton, fifty years in the industry; Mrs Maijorie Jeram – Fareham, Twilfit; Mrs Dolly Cox and Mrs Audrey Arnold (mother and daughter) – Havant, Twilfit, Corners; Joan Sadden – Gosport; Joan Archer – Barrow-in-Furness, Twilfit, Berlei, Alders, Fletchers; Mrs Iris Hayward – Isle of Wight; Mrs S. A. Newton – Fareham, Landport factory; Mrs Horder, her grandmother and six others of the family – Portsmouth, Twilfit; Mrs J. Gray – Waterlooville, Charles Bayer; Mrs D. Dyer – Waterlooville, George Curtis’ factory; Mary Stokes – Havant, Izods Corset factory; Mrs Olive Samphier (Cowdrey) – Portsmouth, Chilcott & Williams; Margaret Windsor and her sister – Portsmouth, Goldsmith Avenue factory; Mrs Stallard – Eastney; and Mrs Doris Young – Liss, Ward Road, garment factory. As Doris Watt, whilst still in her teens, she formed a branch of the Garment Workers’ Union, received a medal and citation from Sir Walter Citrine, and was interviewed for local and national newspapers of the time.

Also to those many others whose names I am not able to record here because it was only in passing that they made their contributions – in the street, the swimming pool, the supermarket, at Weight Watchers, Guilds, women’s groups, meetings, Institutes and writers’ circles.