two ladies for a clean

[Rabbit B]

Hi Rabbit,

The photo in this posting was of a great-aunt who was a mental health nurse - quite a nurse-like uniform apart from the belt & chain.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,365422.0.html

Any thoughts on prison warders for the two on this photo?   

Robert

Hi Robert,

I have seen that other thread a long time back what a beautiful girl she was. So you will know that my lovely Gran was a Mental Health Nurse, as was my Grandfather.

I had also thought about prison warders for these two, but the belt is a bit of a give away for the one on the left isn't it?  They didn't all wear white hats and aprons, as far as I know.

Rabbit B 

[PaulaToo]

Call me picky, but I can't somehow see the little lass on the left as a mental nurse or in a prison.....

My first instinct is for teaching or a secretarial position in one of the larger offices that expected the girls to wear a uniform...perhaps even a long shot something like the telephone exchange....

[Rabbit B]

Hi Paula,
Those are wonderful restores, those belts tell me that they are nurses.

My Mum was in the telephone service did they have really large exchanges as early as this picture?  I don't think so somehow!

Housekeepers, children nannies, are other possible. Not teachers though with belts like that!

Rabbit B 

[PaulaToo]

London Exchange was pretty big in 1913, Rabbit. i have a photo of the girls at the switchboards and a supervisor watching over them. Dark skirts and white blouses... it's what made me think of it.

I feel the girl on the left looks very young....

[Rabbit B]

Well Paula,
 
They liked em young!  They had to pass a voice test in those days! Mum was 16 when she started in Reading, transferred to London after her training. My pictures are 1932 so much later.

But they never had belts like that I am sure!  I will hunt for belts and get back to you tomorrow!

Rabbit B