Z1205/223

Male. Maintenance worker at Hanson. b. 22.01.1941 SIDE A (00 mins)Born in Hull. Family bombed out during the Second World War and moved to Bridlington, 30 miles north on East Coast. Father, a driver, moved to work in Bedford and family joined him later. Fisherwomen at the docks wore clogs. Maternal grandfather killed in action on a North Sea convoy. Women were superstitious and would never say goodbye to their husband at the dockside (in case they never saw them again). (05 mins)Fresh fish available cheaply in the dock area. Women used to go to the off-licence (shop selling alcohol) with their own jug to have it filled with beer. Men only bars in pubs. (10 mins)Bars were so busy (in the 1950s) that you had to get a seat by 7 o'clock each night or you had to stand at the bar all night. Men's rooms might have billiards, snooker, dominoes,, cards being played. Children not allowed into the pub would wait outside the entrance with a drink of lemonade and a packet of crisps. (15 mins)Worked on farms in the summer. His mother used to work in a crab factory. He finished school in Bridlington before moving to Bedford when he was 16. He thinks of Bridlington as home. He and his wife moved back there for a number of years. His wife, from Bedford, preferred life in Bridlington. They were able to get babysitters and go "clubbing" at night. People are more friendly "up North". His wife didn't want to return to Bedford. (20 mins)His eldest daughter married an American so they have three American grandchildren now and so to see them on holiday. When he first moved to Bedford he got a job at the Maltings. Then Father-in-law got him a job in the brickyards for Marston Valley Co. (25 mins)Later, London Brick Co. took over. Then, later still, Hanson bought out London Brick. Hanson wanted big profits and therefore more out of you. (30 mins)Work is now 5 ½ days a week now, instead of 7 days a week. No long a night shift. Three day shifts. Used to be 35 maintenance men; now only 9. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)There are now 5 hammer mills to break the clay extract material into smaller pieces before going into the pans to be ground into small pellets. Very dusty. (05 mins)Workers used to make suggestions which were taken up. Now the management are not interested in worker's ideas. Also less satisfaction with the unions. (10 mins)7-week strike maintenance workers in 1960s in brickyards. No satisfactory outcome for the workers. (15 mins)There's more bickering among workers today than in the 1960s and 1970s. He has only 3 years to go. (20 mins)Likes travelling the world, on holiday. Movement of the W300 Walker dragline machine from Ridgmont pit, to Calvert, by stripping the huge machine down to small parts. Took 6-9 months to complete, by four fitters. (25 mins)Portakabins for making tea and when it was pouring with rain but most work was outside, in all weathers, down the knothole (clay extraction pit). They had a canteen at Calvert but they took sandwiches. Saw wildlife such as deer and foxes when working at the pits. Would go for short walks in the summer at lunchtime. The brickyard has made him a living, bought his house, brought up his family. (29 mins)End of Side B ORIGINAL INTERVIEW 60 mins.

9 April 2003

From: 1940 To: 2003

item

London Brick Company,
Hanson Brick Limited,
Marston Valley Brick Company Limited

brick worker, fitter, World War Two, superstition, fish, Public House, games, farmer, Americans, trades unions, holidays, deer parks, Hull, Bridlington, RIDGMONT