Z1205/063

Female research laboratory statistics assistant at brick works b. 06.10.1935 SIDE A (00 mins)Born in Bedford. Parents from London. Father sought work in brick works during 1930s Depression. Cycled to Stewartby from Bromham (05 mins)Sister & 2 brothers. Didn't see much of father who worked long hours, one weeknights, one week days. All family walked everywhere at weekends. Father ARP warden during Second World War. Prevented from joining armed forces because of varicose veins. Father in charge of women wartime-workers at brickworks. Also tested amphibious vehicles, sent by America for D-Day landings. (10 mins)After the war, returning brick workers not pleased at father's Foreman status. Family moved to Stewartby in 1946. More about father finding it hard to manage women workers who took advantage of him during war. (15 mins)Wartime blackout. Came across an "army of rats" in Kempston. (20 mins)Move to Stewartby Village (25 mins)New Stewartby School. Community concerts at village hall. Joined Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society. Later joined Ampthill Amateur Operatic Society. Early church services in Stewartby Village Hall. (30 mins)Informal minister of religion. Mother kept in touch with London family. Occasional family visits to London by train (32 mins)End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)Grandfather from London visited family in Stewartby occasionally by train, on Sundays. Walked from Bedford Station. (05 mins)Aunts in Tottenham, London. Old-fashioned shop. Left Stewartby School, aged 15 and joined statistics department of London Brick Co., Stewartby (10 mins)First wage. Loans from father to buy clothes. Occasional trips to cinema with brother. Private school background of other research laboratory staff. Loved to work there. Charted brick production & waster. Walked around works site. Scientist leader. (15 mins)Gained higher pay, thanks to her boss. Unions for office and yard workers but not laboratory workers. (20 mins)30 - 40 research laboratory staff at brick works. Wolf-whistles from men when she walked around site but no harassment. (25 mins)"Us" and "them" between office staff and manual workers. Laboratory staff a little bit "above" it all, as graduates or with "A" Levels. Met husband there. (30 mins)Peter stayed with her family, as "digs". (32 mins)End of Side B. CONTINUED ON TAPE 063C2 SIDE A (00 mins)Marriage in 1966. Leaving work when pregnant. Work friendships. (05 mins)Flat in Ampthill. Moved to large rented house Bedford. (10 mins)Car left them by husband's parents. Move to new house in Turvey. Worked part-time in children's nursery there, then took it over. There for 31 years. (15 mins)Caring for retired, invalid father, suffering emphysema through life-time work at brickworks. Winter bronchitis during his working years and pneumonia several times. Pride in high brick production. (20 mins)Reflections on virtual disappearance of brick industry in Marston Vale and changing landscape and use. Reflections on increasing lack of community spirit and individual isolation. (25 mins)Work used to be the common link to bind communities together. (26 mins)End of Side A End of Interview Original Interview 90 mins

22 October 2001

From: 1930 To: 2001

item

brick worker, laboratory, cycling, ARP, World War Two, employment of women, American Army, gender issues, class issues, rats, village halls, Stewartby Senior School, Stewartby Amateur Operatic Society, general churches, wages/conditions, shopping, scientist, trades unions, married woman, nursery, HEALTH & SAFETY, bronchitis, STEWARTBY, BROMHAM, London, KEMPSTON, Tottenham, AMPTHILL, TURVEY