Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    Z1205/121
  • Title
    Male. Photographer for London Brick Company. Musical Director, Stewartby Operatic. b. 07.12.1918 Side A (00 mins)Born and raised in Bedford. 9 children (3 girls, 6 boys). Father worked in factory. First World War German zeppelin raid on Bedford. (07 mins)How the family house has been modernised over the century, from oil lamps to electricity. And outside toilet to indoor lavatory and only cold running water to hot. Mother and her role as a good neighbour. In old age, teaching him to bake. (10 mins)Hard life as housewife, pre- modern conveniences, e.g. lighting coal fires. Father's allotment. No garden at house. Father's unemployment . Harsh means test for unemployment benefit. Father died, aged 63. Service in Royal Air Force in India. (15 mins)(Maternal) grandmother from Houghton Conquest. (20 mins)Long-livers in family. Eldest sister was 93 when she died. He always sang when working. Influence of Wesleyan Methodist chapel. Encouraged to play piano and organ. Mother paid for piano lessons. (25 mins)German piano teacher in Bedford. He used to ;ay duets with her, after lessons. Worked for his diploma with Trinity College of Music. (32 mins)End of Side A Side B (00 mins)Music, his lifelong passion. Singing. Organist. Joined Bedford Orpheus, mixed choir, late 1930s. Attended elementary school in Ampthill Road, then passed exam to attend Bedford Harpur Central School. Left at 15. (05 mins)Curriculum included French and Shorthand. Joined Igranic Electric Company in Elstow Road. Worked as assistant to company photographer to take photos of electric control panels and circuit breakers they made for advertisements. (10 mins)Earned 12 - 15 shillings a week. Gave most to his mother. Woodbine cigarettes cost only 2d.( ½ p); attending cinema, 6d (2 ½ p). Remembers attending his first "talkie" (soundtrack) film with his Father. Was frightened by the sound. Moved to Bedfordshire Times as photographer. Had use of company car. (15 mins)Team of photographers serviced four local papers: Bedford Record; Ampthill News; Woburn Reporter; North Beds. Courier. Got to know Ampthill people well, through job. Still sings in Ampthill Church Choir. Helps Ampthill Choral Society. Moved workplace to join his former colleague who set up a photographer's studio in Luton. Also covered Luton Town football club matches for the Daily Express. Later moved back to Bedford work with Robertson's engineering firm as photographer. Always lived at family home in Bedford. (20 mins)Called up at beginning of Second World War, aged 20. Army School of Photography was full, with Reservists. Trained as barrage balloon operator. Transferred to Port Talbot. Became Flight Commander's clerk. Posted overseas to Far East, Sept. 1943. (25 mins)Fitted cameras to Spitfire and Liberator aircraft. Returned to Britain, Christmas 1945 and demobbed from RAF early 1946. Lost some friends who died in the war. (30 mins)Main danger for him during war was from falling coconuts. (32 mins)End of Side B Continued on CS121C2 Side A (00 mins)Reflections on the war years. (05 mins)Took opportunities for limited sightseeing whist in India. Celebration of VE Day in Darjeeling. (10 mins)Continuing uncertainty regarding war with Japan. 2 ½ years in India. (15 mins)Returned, post-war, to work with Bedfordshire Times. 26 years old. Musical Director of Stewartby Operatic Society. (20 mins)Final job a photographer with London Brick Company at Stewartby. Including assignments around the country, photographing buildings using LBC bricks. Photojournalism for "London Brick Review". Reflections on the names "Klondike" and "Kimberley" for brickworks which greatly increased the earnings of former poorly-paid agricultural workers in the Vale. (25 mins)Was employed by the Research Department. Use three photographic media:colour prints for advertising, colour transparencies for Publicity Officer for presentations to visitors & black and white prints for London Brick Review. His assistant did the processing. (32 mins)Side B (00 mins)London Brick yearly bonus for salaried staff replaced with increased salaries. Separate negotiation for manual workers. Changes observed included closing down of old brickworks in Vale. Recorded new brick works in Peterborough, built on floor of worked-out clay pit, photographically, form foundations to the view from the top of the 300' chimney stack. (05 mins)Transfer of former Marston Valley brick works at Ridgmont, to London Brick Co. Photographing demolitions. Introduction of new mechanical digger, costing a million pounds in the Quest pit. His photographs are acknowledged in London Bricks' book, Bricks to Build a House. (10 mins)Comic operas performed in Stewartby Village Hall each year. Originally at new Stewartby Secondary School, then became independent society. Is now their Vice President. Also, always recorded the productions photographically. (15 mins)Hobby of gardening. Reflects on changes over the period of his life: crystal set early radio receivers; introduction of television (Brogborough Club had a set before the Second World War); developments in photography - early flash devices and long exposures with tripod cameras. So few people now involved in making bricks in the Vale, compared with earlier times. (21 mins)End of Side A End of Interview. Original Interview110 mins
  • Date free text
    15 April 2002
  • Production date
    From: 1915 To: 2002
  • Level of description
    item
Hierarchy browser