Z1205/230

Male. Draughtsman at WH Allen, Bedford. Marston Moretaine resident. Grandfather and father worked at the brickyard. b.20.03.1940 SIDE A (00 mins)Born at Marston in the Grandfathers house. Mother's family from Peterborough. Moved to Marston in 1930's. Father's family came from Whittlesea, Peterborough and also moved to Marston. Mother's surname was White. Grandfather worked in a cabin overseeing the gantry moving clay from Brogborough to Marston. (05 mins)Mother died in 1956. To go into Bedford they used to cycling or to catch the train from Lidlington or Millbrook. Marston yard had been used to store reserves of food throughout the war. Convoys started just outside their house and stretched down through Marston. POW's marched from the camp every morning to the yard to move food on to the lorries. Italian POWs worked on farms. After the war the POWs and displaced persons built the gantry. (10 mins)Mother and aunts used to cycle with him on a child's seat to the pictures in Ampthill or Cranfield. Bikes had no lights so it would have been in the afternoons. Mum was from a family of 10 who lived locally. Father was from a family of 6 who all stayed in the Peterborough area. (15 mins)Played in the knothole. 1946 a cousin drowned in a static tank, within two years they were down in the knothole being taught to swim. Fishing in the knotholes. Grandmother crippled so mother stayed at home. Started work in 1951 working in the canteen at the brickyard with three of his aunts. (20 mins)Went to Marston Village School until 11, then Stewartby until the age of 15. Headmaster at Marston was Stanley Fisher who was a little bit severe, used a cane. Headmaster at Stewartby was Mr Budworth but everyone feared the Deputy Head, Mr Moskitt who used the cane. Father didn't want him in the brickyard. Father in the Northants Regiment stationed at various places such as Southend, Eastbourne and Bletchley Park. (25 mins)His father was a driver in the Army. Father drove to Newhaven with an escort to pick up a typewriter, thought to be one of the Enigmas. When the war ended his father transferred from the Army to the Control Commission for Germany, with its headquarters at Bletchley. (30 mins)Veil of secrecy about the CCG. Prior to D Day they went up to Glasgow on the train to bring back tanks and transporters ready for D Day End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)Father went back to the brickyards in 1947 and stayed at Marston until the yard closed. Went to Brogborough for a short time then took his redundancy. Worked at Cosmic Crayon until he died in 1978. Respondent applied for a job at WH Allen and started there in 1955. Did a 5-year apprenticeship. First year as office boy. (05 mins)Once a week Youth Club at Marston darts, billiards and dancing. He enjoyed working at WH Allens but not as Rolls Royce. (10 mins)In 1955 they were making diesel engines, steam turbines, gas turbines, pumps, electric motors, generators and alternators. Then they progressively sold off the business. Production was transferred to Bergen in Norway and Bedford left as a design and service centre. Difference now living at Elstow. Local folks not interested in the village. Football clubs, cricket clubs, bowls clubs and table tennis clubs all had outsiders coming in. (15 mins)Future looks grim. Leisure time activities were making wood and bone bobbins for lace making. (20 mins)Different woods used in bobbin making. Ties with Bletchley Park. Military rallies and Arnhem verterans. End of Side B Original Interview 55 mins.

5 June 2003

From: 1935 To: 2003

item

Allen,
Marston Valley Brickworks,
Fisher, stanley,
Cosmic Crayon Co.Ltd.

draughtsman, brick worker, Ministry of Food, prisoners of war, Italians, farm worker, cycling, DEATH, swimming, fishing, punishment, driver, army, apprenticeship, football, games, leisure activity, lace making, MARSTON MORETAINE, Peterborough, BROGBOROUGH, LIDLINGTON, MILLBROOK, AMPTHILL, CRANFIELD, Bletchley Park, Newhaven, Glasgow, Norway, ELSTOW