Home Front to Front Line

From 1941 Utility Linen to 2020 NHS Front Line Scrub Bags - Frances tells a textile tale

Some months ago we were donated a large bag of sheets to be repurposed . The sheets were kindly given by Ruth Grant who was in the process of clearing her dad’s house as he had moved into a residential care home.

 We knew we would use them for something creative and productive and then along came Covid-19.

In response to a national call out  for scrub bags  for NHS and key workers, the Amble sewing for the NHS group was created and based at Dry Water. 

 The bag of sheets had found their purpose ! 

Whilst cutting the sheets to make scrub bags  for front line  staff ,a small printed mark was discovered on the corner of  a couple of the sheets.  

On further investigation these were identified as a Utility Mark which was introduced towards the end of 1941 by the British government. 

Raw materials at that time were in short supply so a range of items including clothing and household linens were produced where the quality, style and materials used were restricted  by government regulations. These formed the Utility range which were both affordable and of good quality. 

 As it turns out the quality was so good that 79 years later the sheets are playing their part, for a second time in a worldwide crisis, contributing towards keeping frontline key workers safe during the pandemic. 

Sadly Ruth’s dad , Mr. Edward Allwright died recently but there is something rather wonderful and apt in the re-purposoing and recycling of materials…..fabrics from the home to the health service. A message to us all on valuing what we have and sharing our resources.