Z1205/167

Male. Lorry driver, brickworks. b. 04.09.1933 SIDE A (00 mins)Born, raised and lived all his life in Marston. Father worked for London Brick and then Marston valley brickworks from 1935. Was a 7 days a week smudger, feeding the kiln fires. Remembers seeing the brickmaking process as a boy, all done by hand. (05 mins)Lived at 12 Upper Shelton Road, Marston. 7 children, parents and two lodgers - Irishmen who worked at Marston Valley Co. Happy childhood. You got paid on Friday and had nothing by Monday. (10 mins)Did a milk delivery from the age of 8, using a pram to hold 2 crates of milk. Later, collected the money on Friday nights. Walking round Upper Shelton with £300 - £400 in a shoulder bag, aged 11. Did other small jobs for other tradesmen. Remembers one farmer driving round his field with a pony and trap. Sunday was a day of rest. (15 mins)Attended Lower Shelton Methodist Chapel. Yearly outing to Wickstead Park at Kettering. Gardening on a Sunday was frowned on. (Driving for the brickworks) 20 mph speed restriction on lorries. A journey Southampton was a day's work. Overnight stay. Met drivers from around the country. (20 mins)Started at Marston Valley on the press (making green bricks).Made his wrists swell. First week's pay: £2.14s 4d (£2.72p) for six day's work - Mon to Fri 7 - 5, Sat 7 - 4.30. From age 17, also did some kiln work (25 mins)AT 18 entered army, to do National Service (1948). Learned to drive in army. Returned to Marston Valley, aged 20, and began driving lorries there. Was promoted and moved on to eight-wheelers and articulated lorries. Liked he freedom of the job. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)Incidents whilst driving around the country. Practical jokes drivers played on one another. (05 mins)If a driver needed help, other drivers were always very helpful. Got diplomas for his safe driving. Drivers took a pride in their job. Had an ERF lorry with a Rolls-Royce engine in it. Volvo lorries were the best: spring-loaded seats, cab heater, radios fitted. (10 mins)Most of the fleet of lorries were Volvo or AECs. Could do 60 mph. More variety of lorries at Ridgmont site. The F86 could carry 11,400 bricks. Once you were given a lorry, you kept it, until the day it was sold (10-12 years' use). (15 mins)When you loaded a lorry at Marston you didn't know, until you reached the Gate to leave, where you were going. At Ridgmont, you were told at the Dispatch Office before you loaded up where you were going and whether it involved a night out. Lorry-washing facility was good at Ridgmont (& did 10 or so at one time); at Marston it was poorer and only washed 3 lorries at a time). Similarly, the refuelling situation was much better at Ridgmont, as opposed to Marston. Ridgmont was by far the most modern yard. (20 mins)Got on well with Foreman and Manager. Felt terrible when Marston Valley and Ridgmont were closed. Moved to London Brick Co. at Stewartby. Was always referred to there as a "Marston Valley man". (25 mins)Everyone helped each other at Marston. Influx of Italian male workers (1950s / early 1060s). used to look forward to going to work in those days. Biggest change in his life has been the development / growth of the village. He can remember when there was virtually nothing there; now there are housing estates but inadequate facilities. (32 mins)End of Side B END OF INTERVIEW Original Interview 60 mins.

18 October 2002

From: 1930 To: 2002

item

London Brick Company,
Marston Valley Brickworks,
Volvo

brick worker, lorry driver, Irish, milkman, child labour, farmer, Methodist chapels, gardening, wages/conditions, army, road safety, Italians, MARSTON MORETAINE, Kettering, RIDGMONT, STEWARTBY