Z1205/091

Male mobile crane operator, brickworks b. 31.01.1924 SIDE A (00 mins)Childhood in north London. Father, a milkman. Move to Woburn Sands during Second World War, to avoid bombing. Extended family there. (05 mins)Wells Charity for the poor of Wavendon & Woburn Sands. Range of shops in village. Local tile factory. (10 mins)Quietness of countryside, compared with London. Excellent steam railway service locally. Lancasters, local bus company. Two cinemas in Bletchley. Social activities in village. (15 mins)Wartime fire service locally. Joined Marston Valley Co. brickworks in engineering shop. Transferred to mobile crane work. (20 mins)Very friendly atmosphere at work. Family shop in Woburn Sands. Delivering orders to villagers. Bicycle transport. (25 mins)Fleet of buses from Bedford and Bletchley to brickworks, subsidised by companies, provided transport for workers on regular shifts. Gradual increase in workers' private cars in 1960s. (30 mins)Wartime experience in army. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)Army experience, including crane driving. Married Land Army girl. Married and moved into Woburn Sands cottage. (05 mins)Wife worked in ironmongers in village. Had 2 children. Reunion of male workers when they resumed their pre-war jobs at brickworks. Friendly management at Marston Valley. (10 mins)More regimental approach when London Brick took over Marston Valley Co. but more modern machinery. Arlesley changed from pipe to brick production. (15 mins)Demolition of Ridgmont works despite being the most modern works. Chimney emissions. Effects of sulphurous fumes. (20 mins)Accidental destruction of Ridgmont orchard by sulphurous emission one morning, due to damp fog. Sickly smell of emissions regular part of countryside life in Marston Valley. (22 mins)End of Side B END OF INTERVIEW Original Interview 55 mins

21 January 2002

From: 1920 To: 2002

item

Marston Valley Brickworks,
London Brick Company

brick worker, milkman, World War Two, air raids over UK, CHARITIES, social activities, civil defence fire, engineers, bicycles, TRANSPORT, army, Land Army, ironmongers, pollution, chimneys, orchard, London, WOBURN SANDS, Wavendon, Bletchley, ARLESEY, RIDGMONT