Z1205/156

Female. Family friendship with Italian ex-prisoner of war. b. 24.08.1924 SIDE A (00 mins)Born in North-west London. All the family were Londoners. Paternal grandfather was a publican. Maternal grandfather was a baker. His wife had 11 children. They had lots of parties lasting over a weekend. (05 mins)Dancing, music. Had one older sister and three brothers. One was stillborn and the other two died in infancy. She and her sister were not allowed to play in the streets. They had a garden but her father was very strict and wouldn't allow them to play there. Attended a church school until 14. She got a job in the needlework department at Dickens and Jones in Regent Street but when the Second World War started, her mother insisted on her working locally. (10 mins)She learned embroidery at Princess Frederica School. Father made batteries at Lucas in Acton for 46 years. She was 15 when the war started. She worked in a local butchers and as men and boys went into the forces, she became essential and was exempt from war service. She stayed there until 1947. (15 mins)When she returned home by underground train in the evening, people were beginning to go down to spend the night there during air raids. Her family spent the night in a local shelter. A land mine dropped in their neighbourhood and their house was damaged. The family went to live with an uncle in Stanmore until they found a house to rent. Father used to cycle 11 miles each way to work. Mother used to do outwork, at home, for a West End firm, doing knitting and crocheting. (20 mins)She wrote to a sailor-friend of her cousin for 12 months. He was serving out in India and Malaya. When he returned home in early 1946, they went out together for 18 months and then married. He was from Bedford. Husband went to work at London Brick Co. for a year and then set up his own business. They bought a cottage at Houghton Regis in 1954. She was very lonely. She was going to leave him many times and walk home to London. She has lived there 47 years in the area.. After 7 years, they built heir own bungalow and a large garage to act as a workshop. Moved to Haynes West End. (25 mins)Moved to Wilstead. Husband started an agricultural engineering business. He had been an apprentice mechanic with Rolls Royce. Biggest change in area has been the growth of housing developments in the villages. Fewer shops in villages. (30 mins)Friendship with a former Italian prisoner of war. He became her husband's best friend. They met through the cycle shop her husband had n Houghton conquest. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)The Italian man married and they returned to Italy in 1961/2. She and her husband used to go over to holiday there and got to know his family. The two families are close. (03 mins)End of Side A END OF INTERVIEW. Original interview 35 mins.

9 September 2002

From: 1920 To: 2002

item

Lucas,
London Brick Company

Public House, baker, dancing, MUSIC, DEATH, dressmaker, World War Two, air raids over UK, AGRICULTURE, prisoners of war, Italians, cycling, holidays, London, India, Malaya, HOUGHTON REGIS, HAYNES, Wilstead, STEWARTBY