Sea Your History - Housing 9 - Checking blankets on outmuster

Housing 9 - Checking blankets on outmuster

Jo Hodson

Jo Hodson married her husband George in 1964 when he had been in the Royal Navy for eight years. During his service, he spent most of his time on submarines and throughout the Cold War Jo had little idea of where he might be from day to day. They have two children, the first of which George did not see until several days after she was born. They spent a short period in married quarters until deciding to buy their own home. George retired in 1980.

Jo recalls her surprise at the thoroughness of the outmuster inspection.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Extract Text (Duration 1.00)

You've been... you know St Nicholas Avenue [Rowner, Gosport], it is the older type married quarter and actually it was quite nice, wasn't bad at all, with a great big long garden, and I think I was told I was the only one that had ever bothered to do the garden.

And also, which struck me as rather funny at the time, as you know they do an inventory when you go in, one when you come out, what amazed me the going out one they... not that I used their blankets because I'd got all my own things, but they unfolded every blanket, and I said well, "Why?" and they said, "Because sometimes if you just see them in a cupboard there you just see edges and people have actually cut out the middle," and I found this absolutely amazing. And also doors as well, people remove doors, I couldn't quite... burned them and I thought, ‘well, you know, takes all sorts doesn't it?'