In 1941 when the Kinloch Players started there was rationing. It didn’t finish in 1945 with the end of hostilities. Some things were still restricted in the early 1950’s.

Everyone had a ration book and had to register with shopkeepers on a permanent basis. But anyone who travelled for a living was able to go to an office of the Ministry of Food and have parts of their ration book cancelled or removed in exchange for separate sheets which could be used in any shop, anywhere.  This sometimes worked to the advantage of members of the company. The occasional titbit would be made available, the shopkeeper knowing that the information would not be passed on to a neighbour or other member of the family, as it would be with their registered customers.

In wartime nobody trusted strangers. To this end, Henry Parker had badges made to let people know who the members of the company were. It wasn’t ‘proof of identity’ but it often helped.