In this episode we hear women tell us about their working lives in the Forest of Dean and how the choices facing them expanded in the years after the Second World War. A forgotten army of young Forest women had for generations faced the prospect of Domestic Service, often outside the Forest where they were isolated from their families. The growth of factory work, access to further and higher education and new technologies at home and in the work place, all created new opportunities. However, there were still boundaries, with work defined as ‘men's’ and ‘women's’ work, and constraints that came with being married and having children.

Presented by Dr Roger Deeks, with contributions from, Emily Wood, Ivy Gunter, Jo Lewer, Amy Wynn-Williams, Ruth Dainty, Gill Phelps, Rosa Taylor, George Hogg, Pam Stratford, Glenda Griffiths, Meryl Teague, Roy Close and Pam Box. Thanks also to Caroline Prosser-Lodge, Cheryl Mayo, Emily Hughes, and Amanda Deeks. This podcast was made possible through the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the University of Gloucestershire.