Figure 1.-.

Perhaps I should say how Mum organised our clothing so as to make things run smoothly. It will help explain a little about how we functioned from day to day. There were three main locations for our clothes (four if you include the laundary basket!) depending on the clothes.

Airing Cupboard

The main location was the airing cupboard where most of our clothes went after they had been washed, dried and ironed. [Note: As HBC understands it, the airing cupboard is a small cabinent built round the hotwater heater.] Here was where Mum kept our school clothes all in neat piles ready for the week ahead. We were not allowed to go into that cupboard without Mum's permission as we would disturb her system. We could put away the piles of clothes under her supervision but not upset them again when it came to getting them out. Mum didn't tend to do piles of ironing at one go but ironed our clothes fresh each morning while we were having breakfast. That meant that she got out what we were to wear and by the time we had washed the dishes and brushed our teeth they were there waiting for us. On schooldays this often meant a race between my brother and me to get our teeth cleaned and grab the best pair of shorts. Mum normally did away with this by having our school clothes ironed and ready and on seperate chairs - I knew which shorts I was to wear because they were with the grey shirt - my brothers with the white. My Mum then let us get on with it while she helped my little brother get dressed. Our smarter casual clothes were kept here too and again Mum got them out for us in the mornings and ironed them.

Below the Airing Cubboard

Once home from school or a shopping trip we could then change into proper playclothes which were below the airing cupboard and we could choose them. These were clothes that had been worn out more and no longer considered suitable to go out with Mum in.These included faded cords,slightly torn school shirts,jumpers that had a whole in and so on.There were plenty of older worn school socks there too so I was happy.

Mum's Wardrobe

Our very best clothes were kept in Mum's wardrobe which was behind a curtain in the front room where she also slept on a pull out bed and we definately weren't allowed in there. These included our school blazers that Mum hung up for us, my dreaded check shorts and a pair of dry clean only grey ones and my older brother's suit that he got when he was about 12 years old and my Grandfather bought I think. There were also some items for my little brother like some velvety blue shorts that Mum liked him in for best and white shirt with a frill down the front that I would never have worn but he liked it. Our ties were also kept on a rack in Mum's wardrobe and there was a mirror behind the door so we could tie them - or try to.

Hallway

Our overcoats were hung on hooks in the hallway where our shoes,sandals,plimpsoles and wellie boots were stored too ready to go out.

Bill