We have reported the frequency with which men went on strike at the Cowley car factories.

Then we recalled how the ‘Mrs Mops’ – the cleaners – and the women catering staff vented their anger by walking out.

Now we look at what was called the ‘Petticoat Brigade’ – wives who fought to get their striking men back to work.

READ MORE: New lane on busy junction faces backlash 

They condemned what they described as militant union leaders and occasionally recruited their children to join the battle.

The wives claimed they and their children were suffering as the men’s wages dried up.

After all, they argued, union bosses who were calling the strikes were still being paid while the workers - and their families - were getting nothing.

In April 1974, nearly 200 wives gathered outside the Cowley Workers’ Social Club in Between Towns Road and marched to the factory gates to show their anger at continuing strikes.

Two of the protest leaders, Carol Miller and Margaret Whiffen, went inside the factory to meet plant director John Symonds, who told them that no production was possible if key workers were on strike.

Emerging half an hour later, Mrs Miller called on housewives to make sure their men reported for work – and stayed there.

Mrs Miller and Mrs Whiffen earned celebrity status for the efforts, receiving widespread coverage not only in the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times but in national newspapers and on radio and television.

Pictures 1, 2 and 3, all from 1974 when transport drivers were on strike, show wives and children parading with a clear message – sack the militants so that their men could return to work.

Oxford Mail: They marched from Transport House in Cowley Road to protest outside the factory.

Picture 4 shows Mrs Miller holding a back-to-work banner as she led the women to the plant.

The women also gathered at Oxford Town Hall to air their feelings and gain more support and publicity.

Pictures 5 and 6 show some of them discussing the issues and listening to speakers, all in the cause of getting their men back to work and earning much-needed money for their families.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.