Z1205/008

Male brickworker b. 07.07.1926 SIDE A (00 mins) Childhood in Ampthill (only child.) Father worked at Stewartby brickworks. Paternal grandfather worked a threshing machine on hire to farms. Maternal grandfather was a chef at Millbrook (surname Pepper). Mother did outwork, at home, for Luton hat factory. (5 mins) Extended family. School life. (10 mins) Children's games. School timetable. Father's working times and rates of pay at brickworks. Gardening classes at school (15 mins) School taken over as gas mask preparation centre. First job on mushroom farm, then making ebonite dust there for the war. Called up for war work down the mines at 18 years. Called up to join army in 1945. Served in India and Ceylon. Demobbed 1947. (20 mins) Army life. After war, returned to work in rubber factory. Joined Stewartby brickworks in 1952, aged 27yrs. (Stayed 37 years, maintaining conveyor belts.) Married soon after. (25 mins) Maintenance fitter. (27.5 mins) END OF INTERVIEW (No further interview on Side B) Original interview 30 minutes

6 April 2001

From: 1920 To: 2001

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brickworker, soldier, hat worker, threshing, World War Two, chef, mushrooms, STEWARTBY, MILLBROOK, LUTON, Ceylon