YEOVILTON LIFE: Hanging up the needle and thread

YEOVILTON LIFE: Hanging up the needle and thread

AFTER 53 illustrious years the tailoress Peggy Caren and her able assistant Brenda Purchase have celebrated their final day at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton.

Peggy was 23-years-old when she began her tailoring career at Yeovilton. She was joined by Brenda 20 years later and the two ladies have been sewing military uniforms ever since.

Having sewn the uniforms of countless Royal Navy and Royal Marines servicemen from the very junior up to the 1st Sea Lord, head of the Royal Navy, they have a wealth of knowledge, experience and stories.

The uniforms they have made have been used around the world including being used for ceremonial occasions. As they are keen to point out, although they have never meet royalty, the uniforms they’ve made certainly have.

In the last half century they have seen the Air Station change beyond all recognition but the spirit of the junior sailors, Royal Marines and now junior soldiers, who arrived earlier this year, is as good as it has ever been.

While the ladies have thoroughly enjoyed being professional tailors it is the company and the friendship of these junior service personnel that has kept them at their sewing machines through the years and many, many broken needles.

Deputy Logistics Commander, Lieutenant Commander Rachael Cunnel, during their leaving presentation, said: “The ship’s company of RNAS Yeovilton is immensely grateful for their sterling efforts over the years and wishes them all the best for the future.”

PHOTO – TOP: Pictured, from left, Brenda Purchase, 1st Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas, Peggy Caren, and Commanding Officer of RNAS Yeovilton, Commodore Jock Alexander.

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