Newspapers were full of advertisements encouraging people to reuse and recycle items. Even clothes were rationed and a Government campaign 'Make, Do and Mend' was started to encourage women to recycle and repair old clothes.

A range of simple clothes called 'utility clothing' was introduced but people used their imaginations to get around the shortages, some recycled parachute silk to make underwear, night dresses and even wedding dresses.

Everyone was encouraged to save and economise - to save money and materials that could be used to help fight the war. National and Local schemes organised the collection of bags, bottles, paper and metal to recycle. Slough even had its own 'Salvage Kid' to encourage everyone to take part in sorting through their rubbish.

Did you know??
Life went on despite the war and people
still got married even though their weddings had to
be much simpler. Many wartime newlyweds had wedding cakes made where the smallest, top tier was a real cake and
the levels below were made from cardboard, iced
to look like a whole cake!’.

back to exhibition