Once the children were old enough Elsie decided to earn a living in her own right. She enrolled as a civil servant at Andover in 1978 working in the RCT Movement Control Centre at Logistics Executive, Andover. She then took absence with leave to accompany me to Belize before returning to the civil service in August 1982 when she became employed in the library at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. During this time she became good friends with June and Rita. She met Rita regularly for lengthy coffee chats until only a few weeks before passing away. After 4 years she left the civil service and became a Publications Clerk with the Associated Qualifications Alliance located within Surrey University, Guildford. It was here she met Pam who became a firm friend and her regular weekly walking partner and luncheon date pal. She remained there until retiring full time on 11th January 2002