Z1205/158

Female. Teacher. b. 31.03.1940 SIDE A (00 mins)Born and raised just outside Ipswich, where her father was working. Mother from Colchester. Father from Kettering. Was there until she married. Cycled 2 miles to school, when older. Later, attended a teacher training college in London. Enjoyed observing nature in the local fields. Childhood activities with church, Brownies, Girl Guides, youth clubs. Swimming, ballet dancing. From 13, horse-riding. (05 mins)Older brother. Had friends of both sexes. Attended girls' school but was a bit of a tom-boy. Father worked for the Bronze & Brass Company (which later became Dazdon Metal) as a buyer and seller. He was a Director towards the end of his life. Took her to see the works, when she was a child. They made the silver-bronze propellers for the Queen Mary liner. He entertained foreign visitors and she would join them for a meal in the evening, in place of her mother, who had many church activities. (10 mins)Mother was active in the Mother's Union. Still active now at 90. Her mother had been a lady's maid. Her father's parents lived in London and were quite elderly when she was a child. She visited them and saw all sorts of things in London. (15 mins)She remembers visiting the Festival of Britain. They had an allotment. As a girls, she was off school with Bovine TB for a year and had to have a number of operations. Limited visiting hours in hospitals. (20 mins)Lost a year's schooling and took "O" Levels later. Wanted to do conservation work in the countryside but girls only did nursing and teaching in the 1960s. Chose to teach Juniors and teach music as well as general subjects. Studied in Putney so was able to visit grandparents. Went back to teach in Ipswich to repay the county who financed her studied. Met her husband-to-be in a church group. (25 mins)Found teaching young children fulfilling. Left when she had her own children. Moved to Cranfield in 1967 where her husband got a job with Cranfield College (now post-graduate University). Joined the local Wildlife Trust in 1972 and from then one became a very active volunteer in conservation. Every first Sunday of the month. Wardening Marston Thrift wood and elsewhere. (30 mins)Left teaching in 1980. Edited Wildlife Trust magazine. Travelled abroad with husband, as part of his work. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)Life-long learning about nature. Long list of wildlife found in the area of this ancient wood. Inter-war coppicing. Forestry Commission work in 1950s. Development of man-made ponds in wet areas of the wood. (05 mins)Wildlife in ponds. Lacemaking with friends. Returns to Ipswich to visit he mother. Misses the sea. (10 mins)Reflections on changing landscape in Marston Vale. (15 mins)Passing on interest in the countryside to children and grandchildren. Reflections on change, for example computers. Pleasure in having done teaching and conservation and not combining the two on a voluntary basis. World-wide travel. (20 mins)The need to be much more gentle with one another. (21 mins)End of Side B.END OF INTERVIEW Original Interview 50 mins

19 September 2002

From: 1935 To: 2002

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teacher, Girls Friendly Societies, ballet, swimming, horses, Mothers' Union, maid, CELEBRATIONS AND COMMEMORATIONS FESTIVALS, allotments, tuberculosis, hospitals, MUSIC, EDUCATION, volunteers, trusts, wild animals, forestry worker, lacemaker, Marston Vale Trust, Ipswich, London, CRANFIELD, Marston Thrift