- There was no tissue paper for personal use. Toilet paper was hard and crunchy – very like greaseproof paper/ baking parchment – and often impregnated with disinfectant so very strong-smelling. The two brands I remember are Bronco and Izal. in my dad’s workplace the toilet paper was printed on every square with ‘Government property. Now wash your hands.’ Noses were blown with cotton handkerchiefs (hankies) even when a person had a heavy cold.
2. Pineapples, peaches, salmon, cream and mandarin oranges were only seen in tins. I’m sure I didn’t see real peaches or pineapples until the late 60s. Tinned salmon was a treat for Sunday tea or when visitors came. Cream (usually served on trifle or a bowl of tinned fruit) was always Carnation or Ideal. I imagine this was because domestic fridges were uncommon in the UK in the 50s and it was a problem keeping things fresh.
3. We had never heard of Velcro and all zips had metal teeth. Most female garments had hooks and eyes or press studs somewhere.
4. Underwear was all cotton and all white or cream. Everybody wore vests all year round – summer vests in warm weather and winter vests in the cold.
A knitting pattern for ladies’ vests.
A child’s Cherub brand vest.
5. You always went to bed when unwell – even if it was just a cold.
6. Hair was washed once a week, no more.
7. Gay meant happy, jolly, merry, carefree.
8. Household light bulbs were all the same size and the same fitting – bayonet. When I go to buy replacement lightbulbs now I take a sample of the one I want with me as the choice is bewildering!
9. There were no tiny batteries such as watch ones. I don’t remember having anything which needed batteries apart from torches.
10. There were no calculators. In the late 1960s, as a student, I came across my first ever calculator. It was mechanical and made of metal. It had a lever lever on the side and a roll of tape which showed the calculation printed put. I thought it was amazing. Up until then the only aids to maths I had come across were log tables and slide rules.
. . . . . . . . . .
I will just add my usual disclaimer – these are my recollections and things might have been very different for people living in different parts of Britain, particularly those in towns and cities where things were perhaps a bit more advanced.
Childhood Memories of growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. 
Thank you for this trip down memory lane. Our neighbours always had Izal medicated toilet paper – it really did smell so strong! I remember the tinned cream too, but we often had “top of the milk” before the days of homogenization. My mother would be very frustrated if the milk had sat on the step and birds had got at it through the foil lid before we did!
And do you ever remember collecting the foil milk-bottle tops? Goodness knows what was done with them but I do remember having bags-full. Now there are so many different types of milk it is bewildering.
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Thank you for sharing your memories! I had forgotten about foil tops for the blind. I have looked it up and find that I could probably do a whole post just on milk! You might enjoy this link http://www.1900s.org.uk/1940s50s-milk-bottles.htm As a small child I used to think it helped them see because it was shiny! Meryl
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Wow! Even the description of the disinfected and rough toilet paper brought back the memory of the smell right back to me. I remember well the cloth hankies. How hygiene standards have changed! One would be aghast now at reusing cloth hankies whilst having a cold or bad allergies. Indeed, using hand sanitizer after each “blow” can be the expected norm in certain work places, not to mention discarding the tissue directly afterwards. I remember that boxes of pretty embroidered hankies were a standard birthday present for girls, arranged and pinned in a decorated flat box. I had to smile at your comment about the shiny foil milk bottle tops, Meryl! Had completely forgotten about collecting them for the blind. Can just taste the rich creamy “school” milk which I wouldn’t be able to drink today. I’ll have to take a look at the link as well.
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I like loved getting pretty new hankies as a present. I also remember carefully choosing them for people. So pretty – but so unhygienic as you say!
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