A rural community has staged a protest in support of a mother criticised for hanging her washing outside – by displaying their own laundry across the town.
The rebellion across Colyton in Devon came in response to an anonymous letter criticising Claire Mountjoy for drying her washing outside her home.
Ms Mountjoy, 47, was stunned by the message last week which implied visitors and tourists would be upset and put off by the sight of her family’s laundry.
Washing is hung outside a home in Colyton, Devon, in support of the criticised mother
Claire Mountjoy, 47, pictured with her sons, was criticised in the anonymous letter
The author, claiming to speak ‘on behalf of local businesses and the neighbourhood’, suggested she use a tumble dryer or hang her washing in the house instead.
The letter read: ‘We all try hard to keep our lovely town thriving and looking good.
‘While we understand you have a small house with no outside room for your boys, would you please consider using a tumble dryer or hanging the washing indoors.
‘This letter is not written with malice but we ask you to please help us all keep Colyton a town we can all be proud of.’
But residents in the town, which has a population of just over 2,000, responded by launching what has been dubbed ‘The Laundry Revolution’.
Protesters are hanging their washing outside after the mother was criticised in the letter
Ms Mountjoy said many homes and shops in the town now proudly sport lines of pants and socks in defiance – her personal favourite being a bra on top of a flagpole.
The mother, who is an education officer for Devon Wildlife Trust, said: ‘It shows the fabulous community spirit Colyton has.
‘Colyton is known as the most rebellious town in Devon. That kind of streak is still in its people. It is quite strange that someone should be so upset about it.
‘They suggest that visitors would be put off but actually our laundry revolution is actually bringing in more visitors.
Residents in the town responded by launching what has been dubbed ‘The Laundry Revolution’
‘I want to say to whoever wrote the note that they really should be doing their washing in a more environmentally friendly way and putting it outside. It would have been better to have had a nice chat.’
While remaining anonymous, the author of the letter is thought to be responsible for a ‘This is not acceptable’ sign placed next to ‘pant-bunting’ created by Ms Mountjoy’s children on Thursday.
There was support for the uprising online. Paul Arnott said he put up his washing line after reading a message on the Heart of Colyton Facebook group.
He wrote: ‘This display of laundry is in support of a lovely family in Dolphin Street. Yesterday they received the dreaded anonymous letter ‘Meant in kindness’ asking them not to dry their washing at the front of their house for fear of upsetting tourists. As Bart Simpson used to say, “Eat my shorts”.’
Alix Renshaw suggested that June 7 each year should become ‘Colyton’s Underwear Airing Rebellion Day’.
And Alison Stenning added: ‘We should have an annual Colyton Hanging Day when everyone hangs their washing in front of their house.’
Colyton became known as the ‘most rebellious town in Devon’ as more citizens from there joined a Protestant rebellion against James II in 1685 than from any other town.