Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    Z1205/176
  • Title
    Male. Clay worker making tiles. Self-employed greengrocer. Father was butcher. b. 02.02.1915 SIDE A (00 mins)Born in Marston Moretaine. Maternal grandparents lived across the road and had a family of 11 children. Paternal grandfather was a self-employed coalman. Maternal grandfather worked for Charles Franklin, coalman. Used horse and cart for deliver. Father was a butcher. (05 mins)First motorised butcher's van used by Father in 1931, loaded up with meat slaughtered in Lower Sheldon Road. Killings on Mondays and Thursdays. Primitive refrigerated tank, with sawdust insulation. (10 mins)Description of slaughter procedures. Used of blood. (15 mins)Making black puddings using pig's blood. (20 mins)2 girls and 3 boys in his family. He was the middle child. He used to deliver the Bedfordshire Times newspapers on Fridays to the local area. From age 8 to 14. Two shillings pocket money form Dad on Saturday night, for delivering meat. (25 mins)Saved 1 shilling (5p) with his Mother and spent the other on sweets. Attended Lower Sheldon Road school. Headteacher, F.W. Scotchbrooks, was very strict. Gardening in allotments after school. All-through Elementary School, 4 - 14 years. (30 mins)Other teachers were: Mrs. Scotchbrooks, Kitty Jones, from Kempston, and `Nina Sergeant. (32 mins) End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)Sitting exam for Harpur Schools, Bedford. Attended the Primitive Methodist chapel near the post office with his mother on Sunday mornings and the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in the evening with his father. Family used to meet up at paternal grandparents' house on Sunday evenings. (05 mins)As a boy, he pumped the organ bellows. Sunday school outing by horse-drawn charabanc (bus) one Saturday each summer. Sometimes to Stagsden to play in a farmer's field. Took sandwiches and cake and had hot tea made by another chapel. Later, Hills of Kempston took them further afield towards Kimbolton or Whipsnade Zoo. Never went to the seaside until her started working at them Kimberly brickyard, Stewartby, when he was 14. London Brick Co. hired a train to Brighton for workers and families. When he was 16 , went on a chapel trip to Margate by train. (10 mins)Everyone cycled wherever the wanted to go. At Kimberley brickworks, 2 kilns, No. 10 and No. 11. Next to 10 was a shed where nib tiles were made. Steam pipes used to dry the roof tiles. (15 mins)4 men hand-made the nib tiles. 7am - 12; 1 - 5pm. 2 men worked the pug machine, mixing the clay. Transferred to the office. (20 mins)Did clerical work regarding distribution of the bricks. His first wage was just under £1 a week. All was given over to his mother who gave him a few shillings pocket money. Had cooked lunch at work in the canteen: 10d for a main meal and 5d for a sweet. Arrangements for labelling railway wagons transporting bricks. Staffing of ticket office. (25 mins)Worked until 12 noon on Saturdays. Keen on playing football and cricket on Saturday afternoons. Stopped attending chapel on Sundays when he got married. When courting his wife-to-be from Kempston, they went to the cinema in Bedford - either the Plaza, the Palace, Empire or Picturedrome. Sometimes they attended the Royal County Theatre, near Midland Road Station. Wootton Lane was a popular place for courting couples after attending chapel. (30 mins)Used to help a greengrocer on Saturday with his deliveries, sometimes until 9 o'clock at night. He was 17 when he started courting and 19 when he married Prim, who was 18. He was the first of marry out of his siblings. (32 mins)End of Side B.CONTINUED ON CS176C SIDE A (00 mins)Mother was a strict teetotaller. Father only had occasional drink. Brandy was kept in house for medicinal purposes. Drove a taxi on Friday evenings. Courted every other night, visiting her house or going for walks. (05 mins)Was a "drawer" on No. 3 kiln at the brickyard. Chapel-goers wore new clothes for the annual Harvest Festival. Joined Army in September 1940 and left in July 1946. Royal Artillery (The Royal Fusiliers). Operated searchlights and Ack-ack guns on anti-aircraft duty. (10 mins)Left the brickworks and started up his own greengrocery business just before the war. Sold groceries, fruit and veg, and fish for about 40 years. Had vans delivering around the Marston Vale area. Won money through football pools in 1938 and invested it in buying the business. (15 mins)Moved to Upper Sheldon, just past "Exhibition" pub. Wartime training in Norfolk. (20 mins)Made a driver batman to an officer. Experiences as personal servant. Wartime black market in food and drink with American forces. (25 mins)Provided poultry for officers. Hitch-hiked home when given 24 hours leave. Never served abroad. Only occasional air raids on his station. (30 mins)Officers' social life with local Norfolk girls. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDE B (00mins)On return to village after war, joined local parish council, because he visited house to house with his mobile shop and was well placed to know what people felt. He polled the highest vote ever. He gave 50 years of service. He was Vice Chairman and Chairman for 29 years. Still Chairman of the Charities of Marston Moretaine. (10 mins)Became charity Trustee in 1963. Is now a life member. Support for apprentices, the needy and education. After a life-time of good health, found out in 1977 that he was a diabetic leading to trouble with his eyes. (15 mins)Trouble with kidneys now. (17 mins)End of Side B END OF INTERVIEW.Original Interview 110 mins.
  • Date free text
    26 November 2002
  • Production date
    From: 1910 To: 2002
  • Reference
  • Level of description
    item
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