X962/R15

Interview with Stanley Harold Skinner, born 16 August 1936, Loxwood, West Sussex. Working for Garside’s, Leighton Buzzard – driving diesel shunting locomotives and drying sand. Interviewed by Carmela Semeraro.

Interview date 3 October 2008

From: 2008 To: 2008

(05 mins) Stanley Harold Skinner – born 16 August 1936 – Loxwood, West Sussex youngest of 2 children – brother and sister still there. Dad – Head gardener – large fruit farm – apple orchards – eating apples boxed (in bushels: 40 lbs) every Christmas time – lasted all year – Bramleys, Coxes orange pippin, Blenheims, Laxtons. Tried every vegetable as a child – father did everything in garden. They lived off the stuff in the big house. Used to cycle to house 1½ miles every day – got to know the people in the house (10 mins) Father had to stoke the furnace every day to produce hot water. Stan was the ‘baby’ of the family – also had several step brothers and sisters. Mother was a housewife – previously in domestic service – from Winchcombe, Gloucestershire – came as housekeeper to father – eventually married (second marriage). Father – strict disciplinarian – made sure you did what you were supposed to do. Sister worked with father in garden after leaving school – everything including digging. Stan went to work on farm after leaving school at 15 – Drungewick Manor, West Sussex – owned by American gentleman farmer. He owned 32 acre airstrip for private plane. – large American car – physically very large. Stan did all the farm work including harvesting and hay making. Would have liked to have had better education (came top of class in last term) but poor – needed to work and help support family. Father died – aged 51 – when Stan was 13, brother 15, sister 17. Long hours - 7am to 6pm on farm – wage given to mother – she gave pocket money to Stan. Before he left to get married. Brother worked for Marley Concrete in Leighton Buzzard – erecting concrete buildings – and met his wife-to-be, a cousin of the young woman who was to marry Stan [Margaret – 1959]. (15 mins) Stan came over to Leighton Buzzard and looked for work – thought about working at Ascott Farm, Wing but thought the sand pits would be cleaner work – cycled over to Double Arches quarry and was offered a job by Garside’s - started as driver of small, shunting diesel loco (had only driven tractors before) - 50 plus hours a week (24 hours if something went wrong) – including half-day on Saturday. Locos named after Derby or Grand National racehorse winners. (20 mins) Delivered sand to washer and moved away the washed sand – Simplex engines – worked on that for years – then moved to the drying sheds – shovelling sand by hand from the feeder conveyor belt into drier. Large number of workers around that area – about 30 men cycling home from there at ‘knocking off’ time –worked there until retirement, in charge of drying the sand, at 65 years – then went part-time. (25 mins) Even with machinery – blockages needed to be cleared by hand – think nothing of shovelling 5 or 10 tons of sand by hand – Stan had always worked hard – money was not ‘brilliant’ but they got through. Rented council house for many years – then decided to ‘go for it’ and buy the house – were in it for 43 years. Two children – daughter and son. Friendly atmosphere at work – cup of tea and sandwich in hut – ‘slow but sure’ stove – couple of pork pies on Saturday morning – warmed on stove. Cold sweet tea – quenched thirst. Final work in drier was terrible – very dusty – had goggles and mask but was short of breath anyway – found them too cumbersome – worked without – there were signs saying protective clothing must be worn but he decided to work without. Went home ‘black as the ace of spades’ – no showers at work – had bath at home to wash down. (30 mins) Farm dirt clung to you but sand got into you. Most work friends have now died – just Sid and Bert left. Towards the end of his working life, Garside’s laid on a Christmas meal for workers – Chinese Restaurant – nothing for worker’s children – the odd coach trip – one to see Royal Tournament at Earls Courts - he enjoyed the band music – ‘time they give us something’ Very quiet down in West Sussex – life better in Leighton Buzzard – good partner, good family, friends.- (35 mins) End of interview Summarised by Stuart Antrobus (24 March 2009)

35 minutes

Wave Sound file

item

Skinner, Stanley Harold,
Semeraro, Carmela,
George Garside (Sand) Ltd,
Skinner, Margaret

West Sussex, sand, gardener, apples, Gloucestershire, housekeeper, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, locomotives, Simplex Limited