Z1205/090

Male. Brickwork fitter. Father was brickworker. b. 24.06.1935 Side A (00 mins)Born in Peterborough. When 2, Father moved to Marston Valley brickworks, Ridgmont. 4 boys. Mother and daughter left family when he was a baby. Neighbouring aunties helped bring them up. (05 mins)Aunt Jess cooked. Corporal punishment from father. (10 mins)Cold tea to refresh brickworkers. Hardworking father. Allotments gardens tended after work. Grew their own family vegetables. (15 mins)Friday night mobile grocery van. Local baker. (20 mins)Paternal grandmother in Peterborough took snuff and had a wooden leg. Granddad was 6' 2" tall and a brick drawer. Lived by canal. Aunties there went by lorries to work in the Fens, harvesting fruit and veg. Crops. Maternal grandfather was a steward at the London Brick Co. Club at Eye. (25 mins)Visiting relatives in Peterborough by train from Millbrook. Marston Valley Sports Club activities. Childhood games. (30 mins)Children's games continued. Friendly rivalry with "gangs" from Brogborough. Prisoners of War camp. Using water-filled knot holes as swimming pools. (32 mins)End of Side A Side B (00 mins)Nearly drowned in a lake. Learned to ballroom dance on Fridays evenings with Bob Denty. Later influence of television in decreasing social activities in area. (05 mins)Started work aged 16 at Robertson's engineering firm in Bedford. Moved after 6 months to Stewartby. Apprenticed as fitter and turner to Engineering Dept. of brickworks. National Service deferred until 21. (10 mins)12 month Army service in Cyprus during EOKA troubles (Turkish/Cypriot political terrorism) (15 mins)6 months service in Swindon. Returned to brickworks. Left in 1968 when it was clear no promotion was to be offered. (20 mins)Moved to employment in milk bottle top manufacturing machinery. Stayed 32 years. Reflections on changes in life in Marston Moretaine. (25 mins)Expansion of housing in Marston. (30 mins)End of Side B End of Interview Original Interview 60 mins

18 January 2002

From: 1930 To: 2002

item

Marston Valley Brickworks,
London Brick Company,
Robertson W H A and Co Ltd

brick worker, fitter, child abuse, tea, allotments, vegetables, gardening, baker, grocer, injury, fruit, games, prisoners of war, swimming, dancing, television, social activities, National Service Medical Board, army, Turkish Army, Cypriots, HOUSING, TRANSPORT, Peterborough, RIDGMONT, Eye, Fens, MILLBROOK, BROGBOROUGH, STEWARTBY, Cyprus, Swindon