Marlene Tolley – My first job

Marlene: My father decided it was time for a job (laughs). He’d played golf with Major Dabell who at the time was Managing Director of Packs, H Pack.

Simon: H Pack.

Marlene: Yeah, and he said to him, “Is there any vacancies?” apparently. He said, “My daughter’s looking for a job.”

Simon: My daughter doesn’t know she’s looking for a job.

Marlene: No, and he said, “She can start on Monday.” No interview, and I went and then you had to have a uniform. Navy blue in the winter. Moygashel material, and it was a navy-blue suit and jacket, and in the summer, you had turquoise. And you all changed the same day to the different colour uniforms.

Simon: What’s the word you said, Moygashel?

Marlene: Yeah, it was like …. It wasn’t like crimplene, it was a very soft sort of material, creased.

Simon: A synthetic or a …

Marlene: Yes a synthetic I suppose, yeah.

Simon: Right, Moygashel.

Marlene: But I used to cycle from Binstead to Ryde and we used to park down the back of Pack and Culliford. Just leave our bikes on … I don’t know what that road … Union Lane I think it’s called, and we used to park our bikes there. But you left your skirt at work the night before because you wouldn’t go in with a creased skirt else you’d be told off.

Simon: And the bikes were not locked, just placed at the back.

Marlene: Oh no, you didn’t lock things, no. But that’s what we did, yeah. And then I used to cycle home at 1 o’clock, be back at 2.

Simon: For lunch.

Marlene: Go home to lunch, yes. Didn’t eat out in those days. And yes used to change, put your fresh skirt on and went up to work.