Reference
X962/T23
Title
Transcript of interview with Barbara Molly Hedge, born 28 March 1927, Leighton Buzzard. Wife of sand industry worker; member of local Salvation Army. Interveiwed by Carmela Semeraro.
Date free text
Interview date 24 February 2009
Production date
From: 2009 To: 2009
Scope and Content
(00 mins)
Maiden name Mollie Marks. Born in one-bedroomed cottage next to Salvation Army Hall, Lammas Walk, Leighton Buzzard. Father was a Salvation Army (SA) bandsman. One older and one younger brother. Barbara remembered the day when the family was on a Sunday School outing by Buckmaster bus to Wicksteed Park. The bus broke down in a thunderstorm and everyone seemed concerned about her mother. Molly was made to sit with her Auntie Con and cried, “I want my Mum”. Two days later, Molly had a baby brother, named David.
Later in life, David was caught in Kuwait when it was invaded. Molly sent him a message – a verse from the hymn “Ask the Saviour to help you, comfort, strengthen and keep you. He is willing to house you. He will carry you through.”
Molly’s husband, Ronald, worked in the Leighton Buzzard sand industry from leaving school, aged 14, to when he was about 50; he then worked for the county council, shovelling sand out from the back of a lorry to grit roads in the winter. When working for the sand firm [Arnold’s] he drove one of the small locomotives at the Wellington Road washer, opposite Pages Park. In winter - so cold, his feet would freeze to the ground. Later in life – two hip replacements. Retired aged 65 – lived four more years before his death.
Molly would go anywhere to hear a brass band – she could always hear the SA band rehearsing throughout her childhood. Attended Sunday School with about 50 other children. There was a junior band and a singing company (choir).
Molly’s father worked for the Salvation Army company – Tylers & Sons – woodwork, sawing planks for building – all his life.
(05 mins)
Family moved to larger house in Water Lane – then to council house in Heath Road. She met her husband –to- be when some chickens they kept strayed into his neighbouring garden and he returned them. Molly has the 25 year clock which Arnold’s presented to her husband for long service with them.
Molly attended school in Leighton Buzzard – Boodies(?), St. Andrew’s, then Bassett Road School – left aged fourteen. Became machinist at Morris and Sons, making Army uniforms. The girls used to put messages in the pockets of the uniforms, wishing they would come home safe, so that soldiers would write to them. Limited employment in Leighton in those days, just the sand pits and Leighton Tile Works. When married, in 1947, she was 20 and her husband took £5.00 pay home for them to live on. They had two children – a boy and girl. Her daughter also had two children. Now Molly has two grandsons.
When Molly was a child Sunday School was the main thing in her life – attending twice, morning and afternoon. She was a ‘Sunbeam’. They read the Bible and made things. When older, they wore a uniform and then were called ‘Guards’ [as in a spiritual army].
(10 mins)
Mrs. Tyler was her Sunday School teacher, Head of the Sunday School.
Molly had a granddad in Mentmore. He would cycle over every Mothering Sunday on his three-wheeled tricycle to bring bunches of daffodils for the children to give to their mums. When the family wished to visit him, they would have to walk to Mentmore, with mother pushing a pram. Dad would sing ‘Onwards Christian Soldiers’ as their walked up the hill to the village.
Molly has had a happy life. When she married, she left the Salvation Army only because husband belonged to the Royal British Legion and was on the committee and asked her to help him, visiting families who needed help. When her husband died, she rejoined the Salvation Army, because she missed it.
She used to take the children to stand with them when they had outdoor services in the town on a Sunday, outside the Fire Station, in the High Street, and then march down North Street back to the SA Hall. These days the SA do not go out on the street, except at Christmas time. The band and singers play carols and they collect money to support their services.
Molly had major surgery two years ago – that, “...knocked me up”.
(14 mins)
End of interview
Summarised by Stuart Antrobus (9 September 2009)
Format
Microsoft Word File
The Greensand Trust
Leighton Buzzard Library
Reference
Level of description
item