Sea Your History - Family Life 9 - Changes on the washing line

Family Life 9 - Changes on the washing line

Glenis Mould

Glenis met Colin in 1983 when he had been serving in the submarine branch of the Navy for eight years. Before getting married Glenis moved to Scotland for a trial period to see whether she could cope with life as a naval wife, although she was not eligible for some of the support provided for married couples. Following their marriage in 1985 they had two children. Colin was often required to work at sea for long periods when they were young, leaving Glenis to raise the children alone. She is very proud of her husband and her own connection with the Navy.

Glenis reveals one way you could tell whether the sailors were home or on patrol.

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Extract Text (Duration 0.49)

You know, as soon as he came home his washing was put on so you always had clean clothes to put on, and that, you know, the washing was blown out on the line, so it was always that real true, fresh smell, and so they then had that to go back into work with. And you could always tell, especially when living in Married Quarters when you were in close proximity to all the other naval wives, of, you know, you could always tell when the sailors had come home because all the washing would then be out on the line and it would be all change from all the sort of girl things to all the, you know, men's work shirts and the trousers and the rows and rows and rows of work equipment so you'd have out. So all the washing lines used to change so it was quite funny to see. So you always knew who was on crew, who was off crew just by the washing lines really. So that was always good.