Z1205/034

Male worker at Arlesey brickyard b. 24.10.1922 SIDE A (00 mins)Born in Rothwell, Kettering, but stationed in Arlesey in Army in 1942. Met wife in public house there. Subsequent service in Pioneer Corp. in Belgium, Germany and France. First child born while father away at war. (06 mins)After war, joined brick yard at Arlesey, and worked there for 32 years. Lived in prefabricated house. Work in all stages of brick pipe production. (10 mins)Arlesey was not a commercial brick producer; only produced occasional white bricks for its own factory use. Drainage pipes produced stacked in pyramids. German plane hit a chimney there during Second World War. (15 mins)Kiln repair was done by men from London Brick Co. at Stewartby, since no bricklayers at Arlesey. (20 mins)Poor pay. Needed to work overtime to earn a living. Was a member of the Arlesey fire service. Wife was full-time housewife, but did seasonal potato picking.When Arlesey brick yard closed down, accepted it. End of Interview. Original interview 30 mins

10 August 2001

From: 1920 To: 2001

item

army, World War Two, Germans, chimneys, firemen, potatoes, air raids over UK, brick worker, ARLESEY, Kettering, Belgium, Germany, France, STEWARTBY