Z1205/203

Female. Factory worker. Worked for a time on R101 airship at Cardington. b. 19.06.1910 SIDE A (00 mins)Born in Kempston. 3 brothers and a sister. She was youngest and only 4 when her father, who worked in the brickyard in Elstow, went into the army for the First World War. She never saw him again. He died in France in 1916. Two of his brothers, her uncles, were also killed. (05 mins)Paternal grandparents lived in Bromham. Used to walk from Kempston to Bromham to se them. Mother used to do housework in the mornings for farmers in Bunyan Road, Kempston, to supplement her limited pension, and took in washing to do for 3 other families. Sister used to help mother do the housework. (10 mins)When children were 14, mother the child-support stopped and she only had a widow's pension. Maternal grandparents lived in Northampton. Occasionally walked them to see them. Left school at 13 and worked in a shoe factory, then at the Crown paint factory in Ampthill Road. Couldn't afford a bicycle. (15 mins)Gave all her earnings to her mother. Was given a bit of pocket money. Sister worked at Cryselco until she got married. After interviewee got married, and had a little girl, her mother got ill and she took over her cleaning job at the farm for ten years, from 9 - 12. Went to Cardington to work in airship production aged 19. Bought a cycle to travel there. Did machining and pasting on the silver-coloured outer cover. Remembers holding on to a mooring rope and releasing it quickly when it went up. After the airship crashed in France they workers were laid up and had to sign on at the Labour Exchange. (20 mins)Once had a chance to see inside the airship but was frightened of climbing the steep ladder and declined. Went to the mass funeral in Cardington. 48 lorries with two coffins on each. She walked at the back, part of 20 former employees. Got a job at Meltis (Peake Freans) until she got married. Up to 300 girls worked at the factory in Bedford. Worked 7.30 - 5pm. (25 mins)Married aged 23. Didn't do paid work after that. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)Cleanliness and hygiene. Could buy chocolates cheaply for her mum. Husband came from Sunderland to work in the brickworks. She met him at a local dance. (05 mins)He was a bricklayer. They rented a council house in Kempston. Her three brothers were conscripted in the Second World War. (10 mins)She has only two nephews left of her family. Visits her daughter every weekend. Has been a widow for 26 years. Husband died of a tumour on the brain, a year after retiring. (15 mins)Used to cook a midday meal for a widower next door for 12 years, before he died. (18 mins)End of Side B ORIGINAL INTERVIEW 50 mins.

11 February 2003

From: 1905 To: 2003

item

Short Brothers Limited,
Eastwood Flettons Brick Company,
Cryselco Ltd,
Meltis Limited

R101, Airship Industries Ltd, World War One, DEATH, domestic servant, wash houses, widow, child labour, funerals, brick worker, DANCE, World War Two, CARDINGTON, Shortstown, KEMPSTON, France, BROMHAM