Did you work in a uniform?

I wore RAF uniform as a student nurse back in the early 60s - white cap, dress, shoes and belt. When qualified, the belt was changed for a navy one. RAF blue was only worn on special occasions, such as for parades for the queen's sons being born. Our outdoor hats were tricorns, which upset a certain drill sergeant because they were different from the others' hats.

In civvie life, it was a white staff nurse dress for a while and then a navy blue ward sister's uniform for many years until promotion put me into 'civvies' for work. That was when I discovered that my wardrobe was very short of smart clothes, just casual and 'going out' clothes.

For years, as an RCN rep, I helped to campaign for trousers for female nurses. The dresses were smart but totally impractical. Imagine climbing onto a bed adjusting a young man's traction and trying to protect one's modesty!

About a month after I came out of uniform, trousers were allowed .

Witzend I, just once, as a child, travelled British Caledonian on a plane chartered to bring servicemen and their families back to the UK from the Suez Canal Zone. I thought the uniforms of the cabin staff were wonderful

grandmac

*Foghorn Leghorn*
Yes I was at The London. We had such a wonderful training there didn't we? I started at Tredegar House in 1962, how about you? It is now my sister's local hospital so when she was in there recently I was able to visit the new hospital they've built. It is very big, very blue and very different. Our lovely old building was behind fencing but could still be seen. It looked very dirty and so small! So many memories, happy and sad.

I started my training in 1975 so after the Tredegar House days. It’s very sad to see empty space where our lovely hospital once stood. The new building doesn’t have any soul although much needed. Yes, I do have the book.

It was a fabulous training and The London holds such special memories for me.

Foghorn Leghorn

There is a great book "Nursing Through The Years; Care and Compassion at The Royal London Hospital" It is available on Amazon if you haven't already got it.

Foghorn Leghorn
Yes I was at The London. We had such a wonderful training there didn't we? I started at Tredegar House in 1962, how about you? It is now my sister's local hospital so when she was in there recently I was able to visit the new hospital they've built. It is very big, very blue and very different. Our lovely old building was behind fencing but could still be seen. It looked very dirty and so small! So many memories, happy and sad.

grandmac

Another nurse here! I chose my training hospital purely on the fact I loved the uniform! We had dresses designed by Norman Hartnell with leg o' mutton sleeves! Which were measured to 12 inches above the floor. The buttons were safety pinned on and removed before sending to the laundry, collars kept on with studs, starched hats had to be folded in a specific way and kept on with no hair grips showing. Wonderful starched aprons with straps over the shoulders and crossed at the back. Matron and ward sisters had amazing long frills affixed to the back of their hats. Impractical but looked lovely and I was proud to wear it.

You were at The London weren’t you? Me too. ?

In fact it was so pretty I’ve had to post a pic.

Another nurse here. In the days of traditional uniforms. I was at one of the big London teaching hospitals and they all had distinctive uniforms. My Sister’s uniform was the best. Designed by Norman Hartnell it had short puff sleeves with long sleeves you pulled on for winter, almost like handless opera gloves. A beautiful white lacy cap and on high days and holidays you had to wear your cap tails which hung down your back like a Victorian parlourmaid. And our dresses had real mother of Pearl buttons. It was so pretty, if impractical.

It all sounds so lovely, and orderly, and safe.
It's no wonder you were all so proud to wear your uniforms.

No. Don’t remember a shoulder cape. We had lovely warm full length capes to wear when it was cold though.

Did you have the little shoulder cape?

Another nurse here! I chose my training hospital purely on the fact I loved the uniform! We had dresses designed by Norman Hartnell with leg o' mutton sleeves! Which were measured to 12 inches above the floor. The buttons were safety pinned on and removed before sending to the laundry, collars kept on with studs, starched hats had to be folded in a specific way and kept on with no hair grips showing. Wonderful starched aprons with straps over the shoulders and crossed at the back. Matron and ward sisters had amazing long frills affixed to the back of their hats. Impractical but looked lovely and I was proud to wear it.

I was a student nurse for a short while back in the 70s. Starched aprons and a cap you had to make up yourself from a starched square. It involved two circles, a smaller one to sit on top of your head with a larger one to pin to the back. I never did get the hang of it and had to arrive early every day to beg someone to help me. It was strictly forbidden to be seen in uniform outside of work, you changed and put your uniform into the laundry, collecting a clean uniform for your next shift. Infection control was drummed into you by the ward sister. We also had a wool cloak to wear over our uniform when walking between the nurses home and the hospital. Ahh I have gone all nostalgic now

I worked as a lab technician for over 10 years before having my children. I wore a lab coat all the time so wore really scruffy old clothes underneath. Then they brought in a new rule that we had to take the lab coats off at break times in case they were contaminated, so I suddenly had to wear smarter clothes underneath as they were seen in the staffroom and hospital canteen! Never had to wear a uniform though just protective clothing.

Oh, that was my first job, too.
I wore a white coat and the obligatory scholl sandals.

Dental surgery assistant uniform then registered nurse uniform.

I was in the womens royal naval service in the 70,s and was so proud to wear the uniform. A smart dark suit with a shirt and tie,a mackintosh was provided and a great coat.Those were the days.

I was a Wren in the 50's. The navy uniform was a blazer and skirt, white shirt, black tie black flat shoes and stockings A black "great" coat was supplied for winter wear but was rarely worn due to the weight. A white flat hat with band naming the establishment you worked in - I started at HMS Drake in Plymouth. When I was posted to Malta, I loved wearing "whites" - a short sleeved top and skirt tropical routine for the hot summer. Now that Wrens come under the flag of the Royal Navy most of them wear trousers on board the ships but other than that and the hatt - their uniform looks much the same. Has always been a smart practical uniform to be worn with pride.

I was a secretary to a Chief Superintendent at a Police Station in the late 60’s - 70’s. I didn't have to wear a uniform as such just dark coloured suits with a white blouse and high heels. Trousers were a definite no-no and a sackable offence if I broke that regulation! Hair and makeup also came into scrutiny. I think it was to ‘dissuade’ the young single Police Officers from becoming to familiar. It didn’t work though as I ended up marrying one!

Grandtante I love that junior housemen had to wear a shorter white coat than the consultant.

Oh Cagney the wool skirt that smelt like wet dogs when wet!
Our uniforms picked up jet fuel smells. It was truly horrible.
We were lucky enough to get a weekly dry cleaning allowance for this and had three uniforms to use in rotation.
Boy, did they need that weekly clean.

Police officer Starting in 1984
A line, wool skirt which smelled like wet spaniels when it got wet
(Trousers only allowed when on night shift ) also wool
Initially was a rubberised mac , yuk
Court uniform with a tunic was always very smart
(And to think people use this in fantasy role play )
No wonder I escaped to the cid as soon as possible
Keep safe

I was a medical secretary in an x-ray department late 60s early 70s, until I had to leave because I had a baby (but that's another story!)
I had to wear a white coat like a doctor! I thought I was marvelous. My mum (a nurse) encouraged me to train to be a medical secretary because she thought the white coats were chic and it's easier than nursing (she was right there)
Hilarious!

In the Vic (Royal Victoria Infirmary) Glasgow, all nurses of whatever rank wore black stockings in my childhood (1950s -1960s),dresses varied in colour, staff nurses wore dark blue with black belts, sisters even darker blue and matron black.

Consultants (all men) wore lounge suits, as far as I remember physicians wore a white coat over them while surgeons doing a ward round did not.

Junior housemen wore shorter white coats than senior physcians.

District nurses and midwives wore dark blue uniforms with white collars and hats which where reminiscent of girls' school hats.

The army nurses I remember from my childhood wore grey uniforms and veils instead of caps, plus short capes instead of the normal knee-lenght cape other nurses wore when outdoors.

I never wore a uniform as such, but tended to have three skirts and numerous white of pale coloured shirt blouses that I wore in rotation while teaching.

Recently retired physiotherapist here.
Always wore navy trousers and white tunic once qualified and very proud to wear it I was too!!
On clearing wardrobe out during lockdown, realised that most of my clothes are navy and white too!!!