大象传媒

Background to story: Civilian

THE WHITE FIVERS

Pre-war, in 1939 the average weekly wage of a car worker

was well under 拢5, but with the advent of war, the skills of

the local workforce were soon channelled into producing vital

war components, and allied with longer hours, wages gradually

took off.

Five pound notes, hitherto almost unknown to the working

class, began to appear in wage packets. Measuring about 7" x

5", fivers were white and printed on the front only. On the

back you were expected to sign your name when passing it on.

On 1st October 1940 the Midland Daily Telegraph (forerunner

of the Coventry Evening Telegraph) printed a report that city

traders were complaining about the quantity of fivers then in

circulation through higher wages. One trader said it took him

an hour to pay in his takings at the bank because the cashier

had to make a note of the number of every one. Pubs were said

to be inundated with customers on the way home from work on

Friday evenings with workers wanting change to give their wives

the housekeeping money.

Maurice Rattigan

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