Z1205/084

Male. Lorry driver for brickyards. b. 15.12.1929 SIDE A (00 mins)Born and raised in Newport Pagnell, Bucks. Father worked for Northampton Electric Light Co. Remembers schooldays during Second World War. (05 mins)Father's gang of workmen. Child's fascination for lorries. Mother was housewife and mother. Need to buy fresh food every day, because of no fridges in homes. Allocated a council house in 1939. Blackout arrangements at home. (10 mins)Bombing incident during war. Two evacuees from London billeted at his home. Plane spotting at Cranfield aerodrome. (15 mines)American troops in area during war. Impact on social life of local girls. Dances at north Beds. Airfields. Left school in Dec. 1943. Joined firm repairing farm machinery. (20 mins)American lorries were exciting. Rationing of foodstuffs. Listening to wartime radio entertainment on the Light Programme. (25 mins)Moved to work as a driver for Marston Valley brickworks in December 1950. Had learned to drive while on National Service in the army. (32 mins)End of Side A Side B (00 mins)Details of the lorries he drove and the quantities of brick they would carry. Drivers' attempts to maximize income through fiddling journey times. (11.2 mins)Drivers' strike at Marston Valley Co. re introduction of "spy in the cab" clocks, recording lorry movement/times. Management gave way and removed mechanism. (15 mins)Shortage of fuel due to Suez Crisis in 1956 led to temporary introduction of Coline replacement for petrol. Friendly management of London Brick by Walter and Jack Harris. (20 mins) End of Side B.End of Interview Original Interview 50 mins

9 January 2002

From: 1925 To: 2002

item

Marston Valley Brickworks,
London Brick Company,
Harris, Jack,
Harris, Walter

brick worker, lorry driver, World War Two, HOUSING, EDUCATION, air raids over UK, evacuees, American Army, dancing, Airfield, rationing, radio, National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939, wages/conditions, trades unions, Newport Pagnell, MARSTON MORETAINE, CRANFIELD, Suez Canal, STEWARTBY