The remarkable history of the Seawomen of the Marinecraft Unit, and the first BOAC Stewardesses at Poole.

A Heritage Lottery funded community research project.

Poole Flying Boats Celebration (PFBC)

Parkstone Library Buildings

1 Britannia Road

Poole BH14 8AZ

Visit: www.pooleflyingboats.com

Email: info@pooleflyingboats.com

A PFBC Project

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Celebrating the Seawomen of the Marinecraft Unit, and the first BOAC Stewardesses at Poole.

Eta (7)

The Focus of Other Women ~ Within the Local Workforce at Poole

EXCERPT:

Besides the emergence of BOAC’s Women Seamen & Stewardesses in 1943, during WW2 many other Women were significant to the Local Workforce ~ especially Poole’s Pottery well-established as Carter Stabler Adams. There were major opportunities in Poole’s Shipyards (Dorset Lake Yacht Co., British Power Boat Co. & Bolsons); also the Munitions’ Factories of the Royal Naval Cordite Factory at Holton Heath set up during the Great War, and the Royal Ordnance Factory at Creekmoor, manufacturing weaponry & bullets (which operated 1940-48).

In fact, wherever there were expansions occurring in the local workforce ~ and / or vacancies arising from the departure of men principally for the armed forces, ranging from the estate workers on Brownsea Island to the staff within Bournemouth’s Hotels, women (and younger men leaving school) were recruited to fill the posts!

Meanwhile, there were often queues of women locally at the Recruiting Offices for the Armed Forces.

This phenomenal ‘sea change’ for Women was not particular to just Poole, for it was taking place Nationwide…

Please download the pdf (right) for the full story…

The Focus of Other Women ~ Within the Local Workforce at Poole

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About the AYE MA'AM Project Community Focus Promoting the AYE MA'AM project & Recruiting volunteers, 2013

About the Research Volunteer Training, March 2014 Volunteer Training - Oral Recording, November 2014 Project Research Flow Diagram

Selected photos & our video Public Display at Parkstone Library, April 2014 Libbie Escolme-Schmidt & Bournemouth Air Festival, July-August 2014 Blue Plaque at Salterns Marina, October 2013

The AYE MA'AM Story - Archive Index Setting the Scene - New Horizons 1.1 Ahoy There - Women Seamen of BOAC's Marine School at Poole 1.2 Marine School of BOAC at Poole with a Syllabus for the Seawomen 2.1 Sky High - BOAC Shuttle Services between Poole and Foynes, Eire 2.2 US Stewardesses on the Flying Boats of PanAm, AEA and Avalon 3.1 Tour de Force - Women with the Military when based at Poole 3.2 Wrens with RN Poole, and also at HMS Turtle (Combined Ops) 5 BOAC's Marinecraft Unit Seawomen at Poole: Making Waves 6.2 The Remarkable Mrs Louie Dingwall (nee Louisa / Louie Foott) 7 The Focus of Other Women - Within the Local Workforce at Poole 10 Seawomen to the Fore: Boeings, RAF Transport Control and All 18 Customs by Taxi - BOAC Hurn and integral relationship with Poole Summation: Time for Reflections