Age Concern Dorchester - Dorset's Living Memories

From Genges to Wynford Eagle on the back of a motorbike

Gwen Spicer writes...

I started work as a dress maker at Genges, on the corner of Trinity Street when I 15 in 1926.  We worked upstairs – the dress makers, the coat hand, the sleeve hand and us apprentices – seven or eight of us.

 The forewoman took all the fittings.  Above us were the tailors and they’d sit on the floor surrounded by mountains of fabric and cotton.

I did 5 years at Genges – 4 years of that as an apprentice.  I used to come in by train from Moreton every day for 5 pence ha’penny!  I got paid five and a half shillings for the first year and seven and a half shillings for the second year. We worked form 8.30am to 7.00pm – and then I get the train home and start sewing again!

Later I became a young ladies maid for the three daughters of Lord and Lady Wynford - at Maiden Newton.  I had to put all the clothes out that they were going to wear for the day – and put them all away when they were finished with them. Often I couldn’t have my half day off because they always had their entertainments and I had to see that they were dressed – for a ball or for tennis or something like that.

I was five years at Wynford Eagle. Lady Wynford was very generous.  If there was ever a dance in the village – for the scouts or some good cause – she would send a chauffeur to take us there and bring us home.
 
My husband was my only transport when I was in service – he would collect me on his motorbike - otherwise it was a six mile walk back to Dorchester. There wasn’t transport like there is today.  I used to love to ride on the back of his bike!