The 1939 Register and cryptic abbreviations

[GrahamSimons]

I've just found my great-aunt in the 1939 Register. She's described as a High School Mistress - so far so good - but still there in the occupation column there is (R). She's living I would think as a boarder with some unrelated ladies, so not in her school.
The (R) is emphatically not in the column that contains notes on ARP, WVS and the like.
Anyone know what it means?

Thanks as always

[ScouseBoy]

It may mean  Reserved Occupation,  but that is only a guess.

What was the address please?

[GrahamSimons]

Katharine E E Simons b 7th January 1869; at 25 Enys Road, Eastbourne.

The (R) is ever so clear and I've not seen it in other records.

[rosie99]

Katharine E E Simons b 7th January 1869; at 25 Enys Road, Eastbourne.

The (R) is ever so clear and I've not seen it in other records.

That record does not tie up with your original query 

[GrahamSimons]

Oops - wrong great-aunt! My apologies - this 1939 stuff is getting to me!

This is the correct sister:

Blanche Evelyn Selwyn Simons, indexed as Blanche Selwy-Simons. B 14th September 1863, resident Museum Hill Cottage, Haslemere. A search on Blanche Simons 1863 brings her up easily.

Occupation transcribed as High School Mistress (K) but looking at the image it is (R).

[rosie99]

I was beginning to think it was me     

I wonder if it just meant 'retired' She was well past the age to have been still teaching.

[GrahamSimons]

Obvious - brilliant - why didn't I think of that? Thank you so much.....

These sisters were a determined bunch - four of the five didn't marry and all lived well into their nineties. They were great at economising. Of another sister, this tale reached the local Press:

Mrs Hilda Howells, who joined Porteynon and Horton WI in 1931, recalls a wartime economy cookery demonstration by "Elsie" (Phoebe) using sardines. She told her audience: "We will take the heads and tails for the recipe, and keep the bodies for the next dish."

[ScouseBoy]

Before WW2, once a female school teacher got married she could no longer remain a school teacher.

Therefore some female teachers who loved the job may perhaps have decided NOT  to get married.

[rosie99]

I love the sardine economy idea, not sure OH would be impressed though