Hi Simon You seem to have an over zealous enumerator who seems to add his own additions over and above those laid down Generally anything in brackets is an addition by the statistician compiling information from the census but in this case its clearly entered by the enumerator as its before the occupation On the previous page he has entered (temporary) as shown, in brackets, there was no need to do so Looking further I found some with (Militia Recruit Temp) against their occupation so would say thats what it is Re your mans given occupation, basically he was a Council worker Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > My ancestor Thomas Cross is living as a lodger in the Royal Oak, Back > Hill in Ely on the 1881 census. He is shown as a 'Labourer on Board of > Health Works', but most of the other residents of the inn are shown as > '(M Recruit) Labourer'. Would anyone have any idea of the significance > of these two occupations? > > Thanks > > Simon