Z1205/024

Female London Brick Co. office worker & Secretary of the Stewartby Homes Trust b. 27 June 1939 SIDE A (00 mins)Family background. Father - for 52 years in Marston Vale brickworks (Coronation, Ridgmont, Stewartby). Cycled everywhere. Foreman (5 mins)Paternal grandmother in Bedford almshouse. Maternal grandparents in Llanfair PG, Wales. (10 mins)As infant, brought up in Wales with mum and grandparents, evacuated during Second World War got 5 years; spoke only Welsh and attended Welsh infant school. Was six when Dad returned from army. Family lived in one-bedroomed house in Wootton - children's bed on landing. Moved to Stewartby when 11 to new house in village (15 mins)Stewartby village leisure amenities - sports field and grandstand + open-air swimming pool (end of May to end of Sept). Saving up for a season ticket. (20 mins)Swimming teacher - Mr. Kitchener. Left school at 15 ; worked at estate agents in Bedford. Moved to Meltis to learn comptometer operation. Joined London Brick Company, having put her name down on leaving school. Old-time dancing interest. (25 mins)Worked at accounts office at Stewartby brickworks for two years. Marriage in 1958. Daughter born in 1960. Lived in Bedford. (30 mins)Move to house in Stewartby when daughter 18 months old. END OF SIDE A SIDE B (00 mins)Baby clinic; nursery school. Return to work as statistics secretary for Managing Director, London Brick Co. Weekly visit by Sir Ronald Stewart, especially on Trust business. Trust set up using money from Sir Malcolm Stewart to fund the building and maintenance of bungalows to provide rent-free accommodation for retired brickworkers. (5 mins)Only former London Brick Co. workers eligible to apply for a tenancy of retirement home. Changes to policy of Trust to suit present needs. (10 mins)Bungalows designed by Sir Albert Richardson. Working for Sir Ronald Stewart. Admired by workers. Leaving brickworks in 1984. (15 mins)Hanson takeover of London Brick. Redundancy. (20 mins)Working for Trust, in retirement. Reflections on changing landscape, changing lives in Marston Vale. END OF SIDE(End of interview) Original Interview 60 mins.

11 July 2001

From: 1930 To: 2001

item

Stewart, Ronald,
Stewart, Malcolm,
Richardson, Albert,
London Brick Company,
Marston Valley Brick Company Limited,
Meltis Limited,
Hanson Brick Ltd

Sir Malcolm Stewart Trust, secretary, Managing Director, evacuees, Almshouse, World War Two, army, Leisure, sport, swimming, DANCE, accounts, brickworks, RIDGMONT, STEWARTBY, Wales, BEDFORD, WOOTTON