Z1205/181

Male. Mechanic & lorry driver, London Brick Co. b. 29.05.1933 Side A (00 mins)Born in Wootton - lived there for 55 years. Both grand parents from the village. Council houses built in 1931. Paternal grandfather - burner on kiln at London Brick Co., Stewartby. Most male members of family worked in brickyards. (05 mins)One neighbouring family of 11 children. Lived off produce of their gardens. Cycled to Stewartby Secondary Modern School. Maternal grandfather worked in market gardening in Sandy area. (10 mins)Infant school in Wootton next to Cock Inn. Miss Crawley was Headteacher of Junior School, opposite. Could stay on. As an elementary school, until 14 years old. Option at 11 to transfer to Stewartby School. Headmaster, Mr. James. Senior teachers included Mr. & Mrs. Musket. Corporal punishment - the slipper (plimsoll) for boys and the ruler across the knuckles for girls. (15 mins)Treat of missing sports activities was a deterrent to misbehaviour. Gardening was also a threat. Only child. After-school informal games on recreation ground. Wanted to be a mechanic when he left school. (20 mins)Brickworkers, when they had two weeks holiday off work, when they came back suffered from swollen wrists. Hard physical work. Father was a setter. On leaving school interviewee got job in Kempston at small motor repair garage but left after 12 months because of low play and having to work all day Saturday. Learned ballroom dancing at Stewartby Village Hall. Went dancing Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in Bedford: Corn Exchange, Drill Hall in Ashburnham Road, and Cardington Camp. Moved to work in the garage at London Brick Co., Stewartby. (25 mins)Worked on company's fleet of 50 - 60 Reps (sales representatives)cars. After 2 years, moved on to work on lorries. Smoked 20 - 30 cigarettes a day. (30 mins)No ear protection in garage. Lack of awareness of danger of excessive noise. Called up to National Service aged 18. Joined Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). Extensive training in preparing for Korean war. Smashed ankle on assault course wall. (32 mins)End of Side A Side B (00 mins)In military hospital for 6 months. Then convalescent for 3 months. Returned to brickworks but after 12 months back in the garage, ankles swelled up through working on concrete floor. Transferred to driving lorries. (05 mins)Drove for 30 years.6 days a week; 60 hours a week (nearly 11 hour days). About 180 lorries at Stewartby. Maximum speed 40 mph. Drivers going to London used to meet up at a roadside café called the Rookery at Brookman's Park. Changes over the years included the introduction of power steering, air brakes, faster speeds, self-unloading machinery. Self-stack was designed and patented by an engineer at London Brick Co. It reduced the unloading from 2 hours to 30 minutes. (10 mins)Bonus incentive schemes changed practices and reduced wasted time. Paid by load and based on radius distance travelled. He was Transport and General Union Chief Union Steward who negotiated this scheme with the Transport Manager. Was always backed by his fellow drivers. (15 mins)Came off the road for last ten years and became Chief Steward in the works. Paid as average lorry driver. Attended Health & Safety courses at Bedford College and shop steward courses. Gave courses himself at work. Had his own office and was responsible to two directors of the company. 20 years as local magistrate. Had the challenge at work of working with employees of many different cultures and nationalities. (20 mins)Differences between role on magistrate's bench and on industrial tribunal. (25 mins)Didn't tolerate racial disturbances. Retired from the Magistrate's Bench when he was 68, as he was also sitting on an Industrial Tribunal. Was also a county councillor, governor of schools and chairman and secretary of a football club. Awarded British Empire Medal in a New Year's Honours list. (30 mins)Fears for future "race war" or "religious war". Fear of where technology will take the world. But still enjoys life, goes dancing, doesn't smoke now, goes out for meals with his wife. (32 mins)End of Side B Original Interview 60 mins.

10 December 2002

From: 1930 To: 2002

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mechanic, brick worker, lorry driver, HOUSING, gardener, Stewartby Senior School, market gardener, punishment, child abuse, child labour, dancing, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, injury, hospitals, TRANSPORT, trades unions, HEALTH & SAFETY, magistrate, industrial relations, race issues, County Councillor, football, STEWARTBY, WOOTTON, SANDY, KEMPSTON, Korea, Bedford Corn Exchange