(unclear) for hours cleaning (unclear)

I used to do that at Seaton Sluice with them (NAME) used to take the kids along (pause) to nana's

mm-hm

and I used to sit with my f

cleaning it (pause) (interruption) you don't have to do that now

cleaning (unclear) (pause) I don't make my own (unclear) anymore well Marks and Spencer's are (interruption) so good

oh well I still make my own

oh good for you (unclear) make them (unclear) used to make them at home

mm-hm

(unclear)

but everything used to be done in the th the ehm well it was called the kitchen then because we lived in a flat (pause) in Heaton upstairs ehm as you know and with an outside loo and what have you we had we did have a bathroom but with just a bath in no wash basin or anything and everything we did then we had a scullery

yes

which is now we would call a kitchenette and the kitchen used to be where we used to eat and sit and (pause) that's where the piano was and in fact ehm (pause) didn't get any hot water unless you put the fire on so it was always a lovely warm room (pause) but everything was done (unclear)

yes well it was like that at mam's ehm (pause) w we just got hot water when we had the the fire in front of the boiler (pause) ehm because now that we're selling the house there's still coal in the coal house

eeh I bet there is yes

there is there's real (unclear) coal in the coal house

(laughter)

because I keep saying this (laughter) is (laughter) (unclear) a big (unclear) this (laughter) (interruption)

well you should keep a piece for luck you know (interruption) for New Year

oh I never thought of that

yes the (interruption) New Year (pause) take a piece

oh to take in for our for our our shilling and you know (pause) (interruption) piece of coal

yes (unclear) still got a piece

have you

yes

eh

(interruption) but everything everything

so did you have a (pause) a one of the (pause) big ranges

yes with all the

the proper range with eh (interruption) with the fire and the oven door and everything

with the oven door (pause) yes (pause) my pyjamas used to go in the oven to keep warm (pause) because it was so cold

cold

and when you used to come out of the bath everyone did it nobody took any notice of anyone we used to all run in front of the fire in the kitchen and get dried regardless of whom it were (laughter)

yes (laughter) did you find sometimes when you were in bed at night you used to wake up so cold you couldn't straighten your knees

oh no no

no

because eh no when I used to go to bed my dad ehm (pause) used to be in the a ARP

yeah dad was in the ARP (interruption) as well yeah

and he used to have this big heavy coat (pause) and once I were in bed he used to come and put that on top of me oh it was like (interruption) snug snug snug very heavy and that were it once I had that on there that were me set (interruption)

(interruption) oh (pause) you were all right (interruption) oh no because my kids comp well (NAME) complains about being cold now I can remember (pause) lying in my bed (pause) in the war and waking up so cold that I couldn't straighten my knees

mm-hm

and then I used to get up on the morning went to the lino (laughter)

(laughter) oh yes it was lino

(unclear) wasn't carpets it was lino

the lino

yeah

yeah

eeh it was eh (pause) oh (unclear) they don't know they're born

no

no no I can remember the year that I was at North Heaton was nineteen forty seven which was the year of the snow

mm-hm

ehm (pause) and I had it was the first time ever I had to stay for school dinners because I always used to g go home on that bus it used to come from parson's you know (interruption) from outside parson's and up Chillie Road used to catch that at the top of Tosson Terrace to go home for their lunch and I had to stay for dinner because it was so snowy the buses weren't running and after school I walked home (pause) and I walked through (pause) banks of snow (interruption) which were

(interruption) that's right (unclear) (interruption) I remember that

can you remember that

I remember that yes we tried to make an igloo out of it (unclear)

(laughter)

yes yes I always used to go home for my lunch

yeah because you (laughter) didn't have very far to go (laughter)

no it wasn't the thing to do no

no well I mean you know when I was at Cragside junior school (pause) there was just the kids that came

mm-hm

from Cochrane Park on they used to have come on the school bus and they had to stay for lunch but nobody else did

well I used to st when I first went to school I went to Chillingham Road (pause) and I used to walk back every (interruption) lunch time this kindly old policeman used to stand there and see you across the road

oh (unclear) (pause) it wasn't a lollipop lady (interruption) (unclear) was (unclear)

oh no no no a policeman used to stand

(unclear)

no he crossed the road (unclear)

so how long did you go did you go to Chillie

I went until I were

juniors and (pause) no infants and (interruption) juniors

juniors and then I went to (interruption) North Heaton

yeah well I was at Cragside (unclear) juniors and then I went to North Heaton

mm-hm

when I was eleven

mm-hm and then you were a clever soul didn't you

yeah then I went on t t to Central after that

mm-hm

but I was at I mean I can still remember because all the classrooms used to open onto the hall didn't they

yes they did

you could hear the teacher in the next class (interruption) as she got mad with the kids because there were just just glass at the top of the walls wasn't it (interruption)

(interruption) yes (pause) mm-hm (interruption) mm-hm that's true

and lovely staircases with a with a (unclear)

Miss (NAME) was the headmistress

yeah Miss (NAME) was the headmistress (interruption) when I was there

actually I spoke to her not so long ago

did you

she's still alive (pause) she lives in Gosforth

good heavens

mm-hm

so how you know

it was through it was through a a lady (interruption) (unclear)

she must have been quite old because to be a headmistress (interruption) she would have to be well on

well she (pause) she is still alive

so when I was eleven she would be was she twenty years older than me so yes (unclear) years older than me sixty seventy yeah she could she just need be in maybes her eighties (interruption) which isn't too unusual is it

mm-hm (pause) it isn't unusual these days

yes and the

a good time was had by all I can remember going to to Mrs (NAME)'s cookery lessons (pause) can you remember the cookery (interruption) room

oh I can remember the cook the it was the cookery sort of eh

and he had a great big ehm

it was in in another building was it

that's right

you had to go (interruption) across the yard

the bottom of the yard at the bottom of the yard

yes

and there was the science lab there the sewing room (pause) and the cookery (interruption) room

cookery room

and eh they used to have the big old flat irons (pause) we were taught (interruption) how to iron but they had the flat irons as well they had the odd electric one but they hadn't you know (interruption) you they just getting to be modern then

(interruption) (unclear) (interruption) yeah you you had to learn to yeah to heat them over the stove (interruption) (unclear)

I thought the there were a proper ehm (pause) range to put them on and you had to spit on them and clean them with sandpaper or (pause) clean them down before you could iron

so that's even (interruption) worse then

and then when then when we used to cook the meals Mr (NAME) used to ehm

he was a (interruption) teacher (unclear)

he used to teach at Heaton Tech

yes I I knew there was some (interruption) relationship there

yes

well Mrs (NAME) used to organize it so that eh Mr (NAME)'s meal were cooked (pause) and

by her girls

yes

(laughter)

and it used to be taken over to eh (pause) Heaton Tech and I used to love to do it because (NAME) was at Heaton Tech

oh yes

eh I got round to marrying (NAME) at the finish but (interruption) eh

(laughter) (pause) first met him in the playground

at the playground (laughter)

yes I knew Heaton Tech because (NAME) (NAME)'s father was the headmist headmaster there was he still there when you were there

yes he was

mm oh it was quite a quite a scandal did you hear about that

mm no

oh well ehm (pause) (NAME)'s father was the ehm headmaster at Heaton Tech and I she she eventually became (pause) my best friend when I was at Central and we used to often go to (NAME)'s it was sort of open house there was a lot of kids and her mother (interruption) was always very welcoming of all her friends eh but her father was very rarely there because he'd he'd gone to take on a principal at Dewsbury College

mm-hm (pause) mm-hm

and we kept sort of being a bit upset that perhaps (NAME) would be moving to Dewsbury (pause) and it turned out that he'd he'd maltret her mother all her life that she used to have to write him notes and say she was very sorry for being naughty for doing things that hadn't pleased him and he'd been a real bully and a nasty sort of

(unclear)

and she'd stayed with him well she hadn't actually stayed with him because (laughter) she was living in Newcastle and he was living in Dewsbury but she had only applied for divorce when her youngest son (pause) had left home to go to university and then she applied to be divorced from this awful guy and then it all came out about how what an awful life she'd led with this

dearie me

so that was why he went to Dewsbury (interruption) and they didn't go

mm-hm (pause) oh well

but oh her mother was a wonderful woman she was (interruption) the sort of woman you know that all the kids (pause) used to be sure of a welcome at Mrs (NAME)'s house they lived in one of those great big ehm (pause) semis in (pause) King Edward Road (laughter)

(interruption) mm-hm (pause) mm-hm (interruption) yes that's right King Edward

King Edward Road yeah

mm-hm

that's where they lived

lovely mm

you used to walk through the Dene and turn up at (NAME)'s (interruption) for your meal (laughter)

that's right (pause) oh yes Jesmond Dene (pause) I used to go there with the boys from the the street and collect birds' eggs

tut tut

tut (interruption) tut

tut tut it's not (interruption) not allowed (unclear)

my mam never knew otherwise I would get into trouble (interruption) (laughter)

well I mean you know you're not allowed to do any (unclear) because when we (pause) well I didn't do it because I didn't do biology but the people at school who did biology O level had to make a pressed flower collection

mm-hm

can you ever remember those

yes I made a (unclear) (interruption) I did

you did

you went and you had to try and (interruption) get

get

all sorts of flowers (interruption) and

different flowers (pause) mm-hm

look them up in the book and write what (interruption) they were and where you'd found them and when you'd found them

we did (pause) mm-hm

yeah but I didn't I never did biology but I can remember my cousin doing it because we went for a walk in the country she would suddenly pounce on a (interruption) flower (pause) stick it in her (pause) book

yes (unclear) (pause) mm-hm

between blotting paper (interruption) (pause) under a dictionary

that's right (pause) that's right

so you made one of them (interruption) did you

I did I did ehm (pause) I'm trying I can't remember the name of the eh science teacher (pause) small lady (pause) can't think of her name (interruption) at the moment

I can't remember I can't I can

she used to have all the animals ehm (pause) hamsters and guinea pigs and a tortoise

that's a bit before her time wasn't it

and fish

that (interruption) was a bit

and snakes

what oh (laughter) no

because of me me and my animals I used to go down to school early and clean everything out and one opening day she pleaded with my mum to let me have a hamster my mam wouldn't even go into the science lab because (interruption) she said they were too much like mice (pause) but she did try outside of the science lab to get her (pause) but no way (interruption) I used to go down early

(interruption) (laughter) (pause) (interruption) because I know that they do that now ehm (interruption) because they used to have gerbils (pause) I mean (unclear) once had gerbils home from school

mm-hm (pause) that's right

mm-hm well I didn't have anything (pause) hamsters

for holidays but no I mean that that's pretty forward looking for (interruption) for that time wasn't it

it was (pause) mm-hm (pause) (interruption) and the snakes and the snakes used to put snakes in the ehm (pause) in the sink to let them have a swim in the eh in the science lab

(unclear) everybody (pause) did you used to be kind to the snakes as well

oh everything I used to go down early and clean them all out and they even had (pause) budgies (pause) can you not remember that

no I can't I can't remember (interruption) ever going to the science lab at all (interruption) I can remember the cookery lab

(interruption) but I was interested I was (pause) (interruption) well I was interested in all that you see so I would be there

yeah I can remember the cookery room

mm-hm

but apart from that I can I can more or less remember being stuck in that classroom all day and

mm-hm

used to go out the doorway and into the hall for for singing

mm-hm

and the gym was a new building out across the yard as well wasn't it it was

that's right

that was just at the the gate as you went in

mm-hm

and I can remember that I can not besides that I can also remember going to eh

you went upstairs to the sewing room

yeah

the science lab was right opposite ehm (pause) cookery cookery you turned right to (interruption) and you turned left

(unclear) well I can not remember I don't think (interruption) I must have ever have done science there for some reason

I just can't (pause) I just can't remember her name

no I can't remember as I say I can remember the cookery room but I can't remember perhaps perhaps we didn't you see we were sort of

I were a bit (interruption) younger maybe they changed it you know

we were a bit (pause) we were also a bit sort of hybrid in it were it was the last year we sat our eleven plus at Cragside

mm-hm

but in the January (pause) we had to move into senior school it was the way they moved it they didn't move you every year you just

no

you just went through the school and when you got to the top class you moved out regardless an and so it was in fact still top equivalent to top class in the junior (interruption) school when I went to North Heaton so perhaps we didn't do them because you know in those days you just (pause) junior school you sat in your classroom and did (interruption) everything with your own class teacher (pause) yeah perhaps (pause) perhaps it was a bit after (interruption)

(interruption) mm-hm (pause) maybe not (interruption) I don't I don't know how long she'd had this sort of thing going you know as I say it might be after you (interruption) mm-hm

I can't I can't certainly I can't recall that of course I can remember Cragside was supposed to be (pause) such a modern school because (pause) that was built (interruption) round quadrangles

that's right (pause) mm-hm mm-hm

and on and on snowy days the snow used to blow right across (pause) and you had to come out of your classroom into the snow and run (interruption) along to the next classroom so whether it was actually a advance or not I don't (laughter) know (laughter) but at least it's not (unclear) did we have to go out into the yard to the loos at at North Heaton (interruption)

(interruption) yes (pause) yes (interruption) yes they were outside

yeah I had a feeling they were (interruption) I couldn't remember exactly

yes they were outside

mm-hm

they were right beside the wall between Heaton Tech

oh that's right yes

mm-hm (pause) mm-hm

aye that (interruption) (unclear)

we used to play netball in the school yard

yeah

and then we used to go down to Sam Smith's for the games we used to all (pause) troop down all the way down to (interruption) Sam Smith's that used to be the old Rington's

oh yes (pause) we didn't because the only time I can remember going (pause) somewhere for the games we went on a bus to a field I think it was the Newcastle (pause) ehm (pause) council fields (laughter) and they must have been in Fenham or something

oh well (pause) well we walked down to ehm (pause) (interruption) Benfield Road there (interruption)

(interruption) I can't ever remember (unclear) (interruption) yeah

to Sam Smith's which we used to call Rington's

well we used to be the playing fields (interruption) so

and that's where we used to have the (interruption) (unclear)

so (interruption) either

actually there's a school there now (pause) I'm trying to think there's there is a a school down there now ben

Benfield it'd be (laughter) Benfield Road school

Benfield Road school that used to be on

is that is that the (pause) secondary school the big secondary (interruption) big secondary

it must be but that used to be Sam Smith's ehm

yeah I can remember that but with it but again you see whether it was because you were a senior and I was still

mm-hm

strictly speaking a junior well I don't know but I I know I can remember going in this bus because we were in houses

mm-hm

and and I won the relay race (pause) for my house

mm-hm

but the (pause) for some reason oh they didn't have time for the final and we had to come and do the final in the school yard and I was last and I I was (interruption) distraught

(interruption) I was in the blue house

can not remember what house I was in

well I won the cap I won the cup didn't I I won the lot (laughter)

good for you good for you because you were you you used to (interruption) run (unclear)

I used to run (interruption) for Heaton Harriers I was a Heaton Harrier

Harriers as well yeah

yeah (interruption) good for you

but there again you see that used to be down at Benfield Road as well the Harriers old Sam Smith's (pause) Rington's (pause) and then we used to go to Chillingham Road baths as well we used to all troop up the baths (interruption) for a swim

baths yes I can go I can remember going to baths Chillie Road baths well I can remember when we were (pause) what thirteen fourteen we used to walk from High Heaton through the dene out the far side beside La Sagesse and through the alleyway and and down to Jesmond swimming baths

mm-hm

we used to set off about nine o'clock in the morning

mm-hm

and walk to the baths and stay in the baths till (pause) God knows when and then walk all the way home we were absolutely shattered and get home for lunch about two o'clock

mm-hm

and 'where have you been' (laughter)

oh yes well I did all my swimming at Chillie Road baths with them being handy but the school used to take you there as well

yeah

we used of course when we were at central we were spoilt because we used to go to the Royal Grammar bath just across the road

mm-hm

but there again you see that was unusual I mean in in those days not a lot of people got the chance to learn to swim (interruption) did they (unclear)

oh I know (pause) that's true

my kids were always being toted all over the world to to do their swimming lessons

mm-hm

but eh (pause) it was unusual

oh well neither of my parents could swim (pause) eh

well my mam swam don't think my dad did (pause) but eh

and I stayed on at ehm North Heaton until I were fifteen (pause) ehm

and then did you go to park oh you were in the dole office first (interruption) weren't you

and then I went well I s I worked in the library at Parson's (pause) as an office girl (interruption) when I started there

that's right (pause) mm-hm

I ended up by being head girl at North Heaton (pause) then I got a nice letter actually funnily enough just last week we were talking about old coins and I went into my mum's old purse and I came across my letter from Miss (NAME) from school (pause) you know my little little report to (interruption) hand on to my employee (laughter)

yes

I found those for mam and dad when we were going through dad's things and we got all these letters (pause) ehm (pause) for when dad got his job at James Smith and Company

mm

I think it was about nineteen twenty six (pause) and all these letters about (pause) coming for interview (interruption) and they were pleased to say he would get the job and the hours were eight thirty until six (pause) five days a week and eight thirty until one on a Saturday

yes (pause) mm-hm well I've even got my letter (pause) eh my (unclear) (pause) from starting Parson's and I got one pounds fifty a week (laughter)

(laughter) well I can beat you with that one because I've got my uncle's (pause) ehm (pause) indentures for starting Parson's now when would that be he was born in nineteen twelve so it would be nineteen twenty six again (interruption) and he went at sixteen for his five years apprenticeship

mm-hm (pause) mm-hm

and I think he got half a crown a week

mm

for the first first year

mm-hm

and then it went up

yes well I (interruption) (unclear)

five bob

one (laughter) pounds fifty

(laughter) (pause) one pound fifty bet (laughter) you were

yes I thought I was the (interruption) bee's knees

yeah rich as (unclear) is that (laughter) yeah

mm-hm (pause) I started in the library and I stayed there (pause) for eh well you were only supposed to stay there a year I wanted to be a tracer (pause) but there were no vacancies (pause) so I stayed there nearly two years with Miss (NAME) in the library (pause) and I think she were all set for me to stay there actually (pause) but ehm I got the chance to go down to Grubb's and I went down just for a (pause) oh few months to see if I suited the job to see whether they thought I was suitable and whether I liked it (pause) with (NAME) (NAME)

yeah (NAME) (NAME)

and I stayed there

I know (laughter)

and I (interruption) were I were there before they built the the tower and everything when I first went there they lived worked in a tiny little (pause) tiny little room (interruption)

(laughter) we all did (pause) (unclear) (interruption) oh you were up above the tunnel (interruption) in the glass shop weren't you yeah

yes yes long (interruption) before they built it

yes

so I started there with (NAME) and then (NAME) came and then you came

then I came but that oh they would still be building the tower when I came

yes (interruption) mm-hm

they were just (pause) just finishing building it (interruption) about then

but they had the the new lab then though (interruption) didn't they

oh yeah but we were in the new (interruption) labs yes

yes (unclear) when I started was it above the (interruption) old drawing office place a funny (pause) little place

mm-hm (pause) I can remember the being told because they used to keep all the the bits of glass and things up there (interruption) when I was there

mm-hm (pause) mm-hm yes well (interruption) that's where I

as I say we used to live up (interruption) there

yes we (interruption) did

oh (interruption) crikey yeah

we did (pause) mm

that was a great place (unclear) Parson's wasn't it (NAME) used to live (pause) used to work there

mm

just along the passage and then he got put in the new offices on the other side

mm-hm

then he he (pause) when they closed the (pause) the telescopes

mm-hm

he opened the place at Long Benton

mm-hm

you know where the sports (interruption) place was well he had this little little tiny site in the corner just inside the gate and he moved all the infra red (pause) to there

that's right (pause) mm-hm

and then of course I think they were there for a couple of years and then they closed the whole place down

mm-hm

and that were but do you know what they do with the tower now

(interruption) it's still there

it's still there (interruption) (laughter)

I pass it I don't think anyone's actually (interruption) in the offices it just always looks empty as I go by (interruption)

(interruption) (unclear) (pause) yeah (interruption) why (interruption) (unclear)

but we used to climb all those steps take those photographs

take those photographs do gavioli tests

mm with a little inter barometer

yeah we had great fun it was great great fun there

yeah

it was a lovely place to work really (interruption) it was better than (unclear)

well I did learn a lot I mean I learnt how to eh (interruption) take photographs (pause) develop them (laughter) mind they were old glass slides I mean not a not a modern film (laughter)

(laughter) (unclear) (pause) take (laughter) photographs (laughter) (interruption) can you remember that that terrible thing we used to have to do the photocopying on (interruption) that box

oh yes yes I (interruption) do

where we used to lie the the paper down (interruption) and like then put shut the lid and count to ten (laughter) (pause) and open it and then we had to develop and fix them didn't we (interruption)

(interruption) that's right (pause) lid yes (interruption) that's right

it hadn't not like today when you just (interruption) stick it in at one end and they go round and round at the other end all done that's great fun that (pause) yes (interruption) uh-huh

(interruption) oh I know (pause) true (interruption) and then we used to put the the lenses into the ehm (pause) into into the the the eh frames and we used to have to drill the holes through it eh (pause) they were in ehm (pause) can't think shoe plates they were

oh (interruption) yes that's right

and we used to put them in the mounts

yes we had to put the le the lead

yes

had to roll the lead

yes so they were (interruption) the spacers so they don't (unclear)

the (pause) yes (unclear) go (pause) so that they were in the middle

and I can I always remember Mr (NAME) coming in one day to see me with this drill in my hand you know

(laughter)

and he were quite horrified (laughter) in case I blew the place up (laughter) or something (laughter)

(laughter) (unclear) pretended he was worried about you though (laughter)

yes he (laughter) but ehm I mean we had (interruption) been taught how to do it

oh (pause) oh of course

mm

eeh we used to (interruption) (unclear)

I did learn a lot (interruption) (unclear)

can you remember those awful mornings we used to go in and they'd changed the filters and the whole place was covered (interruption) with soot

oh yes yes I do yes

and we had to spend the whole morning (interruption) washing down there all the benches (interruption)

(interruption) cleaning (interruption) yes (unclear)

and all the experiments that (NAME) (NAME) had set up (laughter) on the bench (interruption) oh hey they were we've still got some of the Group Parson's ehm cupboards and things here you know (interruption)

(interruption) yes (laughter) have you

because ehm (pause) when (NAME) (pause) when the place was was all closed down (NAME) was kept on for a year to tidy it all up anyway we've got all sorts of bits actually I'd better ask him to look you some things out and see if you would like them we've got we've got padded cases that they used to pu send the filters out in (interruption) at Group Parson's and and and (pause) beautiful silk linings (interruption)

(interruption) have you (interruption) oh

and eh (pause) th the some of the furniture the cupboards (interruption) and the and the (pause) drawers that used to go under the teak tops (pause) ehm and some of the pink aircraft mirrors (interruption)

(interruption) mm-hm (interruption) oh crumbs yes

can you remember (interruption) them

yes yes I can

yeah well we've got (laughter) (interruption) (unclear) (laughter)

(laughter)

in fact if you went up in our loft you would think you'd (laughter) never left Group Parson's but ehm (pause) every time when when he had to clear everything out and he had to arrange for all the the instruments to go somewhere (pause) and he ehm (pause) he brought all this other stuff (laughter) home

(laughter) mm

so we've got never found anything (laughter) useful to do with it

mm-hm

but we've got it (pause)

yes and then I left (pause) and I had (NAME)

yeah you left to have (NAME)

got worselves married and then left (pause) and then we bought a flat well we bought a (interruption) pair of flats

yes we both (unclear) because that was another funny thing that in those days I've been telling (NAME) lately you couldn't buy (interruption) a flat (interruption)

(interruption) (unclear) (interruption) no you had to buy (interruption) a pair

you had to buy the whole lot

(unclear)

because they couldn't they reckoned that they couldn't work out who had the drains and who paid for (laughter) this that and the other thing didn't (interruption) they

(interruption) yes that's right (interruption) it was the thing to do (interruption) was to buy a pair of them

they seem to have eh sorted that one out (interruption) now because you can buy one flat

mm-hm (pause) oh yes they can then we bought a pair of flats and we had an upstairs (interruption) flat

oh you had the upstairs one

but it didn't have a bathroom but we did have a bath but it were under a bench but

was that not at home

no

I can remember the (interruption) s seeing that bath under the bench

no that that that that was in our flat (interruption) in Simonside Terrace

that was in your flat (pause) mm-hm

but what I really enjoyed more than anything there was an immersion heater so we didn't have to put the silly fire on to get hot (interruption) water

water

I was new fangled putting a switch on and getting it hot water it was wonderful (laughter) so we did away with the coal fire (interruption) and had an electric fire so we didn't bother with coal in the flat

eh (pause) I can remember having the immersion heater put in at home

mm-hm

but it as you say it was (interruption) a red letter day this this immersion heater was

mm (pause) oh it was lovely (pause) for all we didn't have a bathroom it didn't bother (interruption) me just because you just lifted the bench top up (interruption)

(interruption) bother (pause) (unclear) (interruption) yeah

and I had a lovely new bath as well and my mam's bath had been a very old one (pause) I mean my mum's

were you still had an outside toilet (laughter) (unclear)

I used to have an outside toilet but the stairs in our flat were covered in all the way down (pause) ehm and I tried to make the outside toilet as best I could painted all the walls nice and we put a a proper toilet seat on with a lid which you never ever got anywhere else then I mean we don't get them without lids nowadays (interruption) but then

(unclear) (pause) no well (interruption) my dad's hasn't got a lid on

and then we had a tiny little a tiny little lamp eh an aladdin lamp (interruption) that we used to leave in in the winter it used to keep it warm and stop the pipes from freezing I mean my mam and dad had that to keep the pipes free (interruption)

(interruption) oh yes (unclear) (interruption) so you never get a grant to do the place up

well we we could have (pause) the time we sold we were thinking of doing it we were applied or sort of thinking of doing it we got all the information but then the people that were living downstairs who at the time were giving us giving us twelve and six a week rent because they had eh had been in a long time and we couldn't do anything about it

(interruption) yeah

well we did modernize it a bit you know put new doors on for them and what have you and try to sort it out a bit

mm-hm (interruption) twelve and six a week

eh so they were moving so we took the bull by the horns and we (interruption) sold it

and sold it

vacant possession of both and we sold in fact they were standing virtually in a queue (pause) to come in and view (pause) (interruption) because we were selling both and whoever bought them just let them they didn't actually

crikey (pause) both (pause) both of them

uh-huh the (interruption) both of them and let them both

and let them for ten pounds a week

yes because they could do that then (interruption) so we didn't bother with the grant (interruption)

(interruption) yes that's right (interruption) no because it's just (pause) (NAME) when she was at the poly stayed at a a series of flats and things in Heaton an and of course by then all of them had had (interruption) their grants and had their bathroom and loo eh kitchen proper kitchen and and bathroom out the back (interruption)

(interruption) yes their grants (pause) out the back (pause) that's right (interruption) mm-hm (pause) oh yes I mean my mam's well even it was an upstairs flat my mam still had a stone floor in the what was called a scullery ehm (pause) and to have a (interruption) bath in the summer used to be a performance because (pause) she used to have a well when she washed she had a (pause) a washer like a gas washer but it had a handle on the top you used to have to swing round and round and round but she also had a boiler (pause) a gas boiler so that she could boil everything get it nice and white so to have a bath in the summer we used to just fill the gas boiler then we used to have to ladle it carry it (pause) through from the scullery into the bathroom to fill the bath to have a bath

(interruption) yeah (pause) oh yes (pause) oh right (pause) bathroom (interruption) yeah mam mam used to have a gas boiler but in the garage the gas tap again is still there

mm-hm

and and what we also found when we were doing the house was a poss tub

mm-hm

ehm and it it it I I wanted to keep it

well you should have kept that

but but (NAME) would throw it away because we weren't quite sure what to do with it but it had ehm (pause) it was a patent (pause) splash

mm-hm

because it had a rim that turned over (interruption) at the top

yes

so the splash didn't come out patent splash something nineteen thirty four

mm-hm

stamped on the bottom and she used to go out and (pause) poss in that I can not remember what we've got we must have got the first washer about nineteen forty five I think (pause) proper (pause) washing machine

oh well my mam used to wash I mean (pause) forty five I would only be five no my mum was still was doing this hand wash (pause) oh I must have been about ten before she (interruption) got a washer

(interruption) she got a (interruption) well we we as I can remember as you say mam having the boiler and how she used to get these wooden tongs

that's right

and heave it (interruption) all out and put it in the poss tub but when she got the washer because it was it didn't have a heater in the washer it was just just a an agitator she used to boil the stuff up in the boiler and carry it through into the house in a in a big basin and and tong it into the the top of the washer and the washer used to do (pause) that and she used to have these wonderful handles that used to pull up not not just to press the button but you used to have to literally lift this handle to set it off going 'eh eh'

(interruption) all out from one to the other (pause) mm-hm (pause) mm-hm (pause) mm-hm (pause) yes that's right (interruption) yeah

and then when you'd done all that you could wring there was electric wringer because I can remember my poor little mother who was less than five foot standing in the kitchen (pause) trying to turn the handle of a wringer (interruption) to get the sheets through and she sort of practically came off her feet (laughter)

(interruption) yes (interruption) yes well my mum went did the same I mean was just a a reasonably small person as well I mean my mum wasn't a great big strapping woman like I am I don't quite know where I come from

(laughter)

being born during the war but never mind ehm (pause) but my mum used to wash like that with this a one that you used to swing the handle and it had a wringer but you had to turn it (pause) oh it used to be hard work

oh yes it used to it used to amaze me

and there was never such a thing as a fridge either (interruption) we used to just have a pantry and everything used to stay in that pantry everything

(interruption) oh no (pause) pantry with (interruption) did you ever have one of these (pause) cupboards with the (pause) the ehm (pause) mesh front that you used to keep your meat in (interruption) so that the

no we just had the pantries

I can't remember mam having one but I'm sure I've seen one somewhere where you used to have this (interruption) little cupboard and you used to open it and it had a mesh on the front so the flies couldn't get in and you kept (unclear)

(interruption) I can remember mm-hm (pause) mm-hm (pause) well the old pantry used to have a window (unclear) (interruption) but that had a s like a sort of mesh up to stop so you the wind the (pause) air got in

(interruption) yes (pause) that's right the pantry had a mesh up (unclear) (interruption) that's right you had to (interruption) you had to have a window with air in your pantry didn't you that was one of the rules

you had to have (pause) in your pantry (pause) mm (interruption) but I mean everything stayed in there all the meat and everything

yeah (pause) there's still pantries still at at forty four

mm-hm

mam used to put (pause) always used to put all the leftovers in little bowls (interruption) because of course after the war well during the war you never ever threw anything away (interruption)

(interruption) (unclear) (interruption) oh no no mm

and even after that I can remember anything that was left would be carefully put in a little bowl and put on the pantry shelf

mm

because it kept quite cool (interruption) I mean our pantry was sort of (pause) on the east side of the house wasn't it sort of in (unclear) (interruption)

(interruption) oh yes (interruption) well you see we got all the sun in our back in Morton Terrace but ehm (pause) for some reason the pantry used to stay reasonable

yeah our pantry was always quite cool I can remember (interruption) (unclear)

well it didn't do us any harm anyway

no well of course (interruption) (unclear)

the milk used to have to stand in the hot weather we used to stand the milk in a a bucket full (interruption) of cold water

full of cold water with a cloth over (interruption) the top

(interruption) uh-huh to try to keep it cold

yes to keep it cool (pause) yes we did have that as well but of course I I reckon that that's another that's wrong with today (pause) that we used to eat goodness only knows what and we never ailed a thing

no

because nobody worried about it (laughter) did they

no well all this they'll eat not even the fat off the meat I mean if we got a nice piece of beef and it used to get all that lovely black (pause) we used to get the dripping with black underneath I mean I used to have that for my breakfast

yes we used to have it on bread (interruption) dripping and bread

oh lovely dripping and bread with the black (interruption) bits (unclear)

oh yes (pause) really tasty dripping and bread and and another thing that that's come up since dad died my sister in law said it always used to infuriate her that my mother used to give the boys sugar and bread can you (interruption) remember it used to be such a treat to have sugar and bread you used to put butter on and then (pause) put your sugar on and (pause) dunk it back into the sugar bowl (interruption) oh great and (laughter)

(interruption) mm-hm (pause) it was uh-huh (pause) well you yes (pause) sugar (pause) yes (pause) yes lovely (interruption) well you couldn't get sweets

no (interruption) no

and somewhere along the line my mam always seemed to manage to have get the butter and her sugar (pause) but don't ask me how but she always seemed to get whether she used to swap ration books and (interruption) things for other things which (pause) swap things

I don't (unclear) we we mam used to do things like mixing the marge and the butter together so that you didn't know the difference as well

mm-hm (interruption) but she used to

I can remember that

well I always used to have cocoa she used to mix cocoa and sugar (pause) together as a dip for me (interruption) to have as sweets

(laughter) (pause) you used to lick your fingers

(interruption) yes and I I used to get that (unclear)

(unclear) (pause) yeah we used to (interruption) have that

because that was the only way they could have well you couldn't get sweets

we used to have that's like (interruption) cocoa and sugar

and when I were pregnant with our (NAME) (interruption) I had a craving for cocoa and sugar and I used to have to mix myself just a little egg cup full (pause) and and and eat it just to get it out of my system mm (interruption)

(interruption) yes (unclear) (pause) (interruption) quite (unclear) for that my my mam used to sometimes make us butter and sugar the same way mixed together into a sort of paste that you could eat with a spoon

and you know it's not so long ago when my mum died well I'm saying not long ago (pause) mm fifteen years (pause) or thereabouts yes about fifteen year ago and we were clearing out well we were sort of helping with my dad's things she still had sugar in the blue bags do you know they used to (interruption) get

yes I can remember (interruption) that it used to come in the blue bags

well she still she had all sorts stored away in her sideboard tea sugar (pause) my dad lived on it my dad didn't buy sugar or tea for (pause) months and months and months she stored (interruption) well obviously she stored during the war and you get nowadays with those sell date bys I don't know whether you would dare do that now and yet (pause) I don't suppose it (interruption)

(interruption) (unclear) (pause) (unclear) (interruption) I don't see why there should be a sell by date on sugar (interruption) because I doubt there's anything wrong with sugar (unclear)

well (pause) there's a sell by date on most things

yeah I know there is

I mean even her tins of (pause) meat and things that she'd saved and (pause) we used to have a good meal with she used to store (pause) and I'm afraid I'm a bit like my mam now I think I maybe have about fifteen tins of corned beef at the moment in my pantry

(laughter) oh no

because I'm very much like my mam

yeah

and pounds and pounds of sugar

(unclear) if you did if you had a few points spare I suppose you went round and bought a tin of something nice for a treat (interruption) because it used to be a big treat in our house a really big treat to get a tin of peaches

I'm a storer I'm afraid oh yes

you got peaches on your birthday you used to open a tin of peaches on your birthday and that was (pause) the thing that you lived for from (interruption) birthday to birthday

(unclear) true (pause) I can remember not ever ever well I can't when I was a child I had a a toy for my Christmas tree and I used to always think it looked like a baby's bottom (pause) because I had never ever seen a peach and it was actually a peach

oh yes

and for years and years and years when I used to look at it I used to think it as a baby's bottom

because it was

because I had just (interruption) never ever seen a fresh peach

yeah no never seen (pause) or a banana come to that

no no and I've still got (pause) that baby's bottom

that baby's bottom for your (laughter) Christmas tree

yes yes my Christmas tree I still have it

mm but you see that's another thing that that I found about the war is I don't like bananas and I don't like coconut

mm-hm

because partly I think it was because (pause) mam and dad always used to say 'oh wait until the war's over and you get a banana' and I think I was expecting something (pause) really wonderful

mm-hm

and they just (pause) weren't really as good as all that (laughter)

no no and toys as well I've still got a tiny little little (pause) celluloid tiny little fairy that I believe came out of Christmas crackers before my time I mean I think I got them from the next door neighbour

mm-hm

and I've still got eh a tiny little one and a tiny little teddy bear and they go on the Christmas tree as well I don't know how old they are

well I suppose they did come out of crackers it's like like everything else I mean in those days you got decent toys in (laughter) the crackers

yes it was a long time ago mm

like when Woolworth's used to be a threepenny and sixpenny store

mm-hm

because I can remember (pause) in the war when I would say 'why does it say a threepence and sixpenny store' mam and dad used to say 'well because everything in Woolworth's is less than sixpence' and I used to say 'well it isn't now' and they used to say 'well after the war (laughter) after the war it will be again' of course it never was but right through the war Woolworth's used to say 'Woolworth's the threepence and sixpenny store'

mm-hm

and I don't think it ever was actually threepence and sixpence well obviously there's some things that were threepence and sixpence but but not it never stayed like that

mm

yes I I've actually we've had quite a lot of fun lately because of course with with dad dying and clearing the house we found quite a lot of nice things there but also (pause) we had stuff of (NAME)'s up in the loft and (NAME) was determined she was going to take it to Australia with her he said she's not a a fool we've kept it for thirty years you know

yes I know

but because she's going to take it to Australia it's going to come go out and we found my doll's house furniture and I can remember getting that doll's house furniture during the war in my stocking (pause) and at the time my father couldn't (pause) was called up but he couldn't go away because he had a duodenal ulcer and he he wasn't a hundred percent fit and he used to work in a factory on the Team Valley and the at Christmas obviously the older guys used to make a big effort to make it nice for the young men with with kids and we used to get a lot of second hand toys that had been done up but one of them had made me this this furniture ehm and it's made with plywood ehm and it's eh (pause) it it the three piece suite was just like the one at home it was sort of square with (interruption) leather seats and arms

mm-hm (pause) mm-hm

and a a table with four four legs and a and a little wardrobe and this had a teeny weenie little coat hanger in it

mm-hm

which I thought was absolutely wonderful

mm-hm

but it was all (pause) you know really nice furniture made of wood it's probably worth a fortune now

most (interruption) probably

but we found that all upstairs (interruption) with the girls' toys

mm-hm (pause) mm-hm

so I've sort of sorted it all out and wrapped it back (laughter) with her toys

oh no no

got it upstairs some of it the the table with all the legs with the with the glue going

mm-hm

all the legs are falling off the table which had happened (interruption) to some of the (laughter) tables (unclear) in father's house (laughter) (unclear)

yes mm-hm

because (NAME)'s that's another of the things (NAME)'s doing at the moment is (laughter) sticking together all these (laughter) (interruption) tables from my father's house (laughter) they did it did they just he must have just left them stand there since my mother died twenty years ago and one of them in particular had all the family photos on the top and the four legs were sort of (laughter) splayed out like this because it had obviously slowly but surely sunk down under the weight of the family photos you know so he's he's working very hard at that

(interruption) (pause) yes (pause) mm (pause) mm-hm

but then I don't think that I (pause) so yeah we I mean we used we didn't have a lot of toys when I think looking back

no no I didn't

nothing like

no with living upstairs ehm

mm-hm

at Morton I had all all the neighbours were aunties and uncles you know I called them auntie and I had an auntie (NAME) and uncle (NAME) downstairs and they had a son (NAME) he was very good with woodwork and he made me a shop in the back bedroom it used to be my playroom and it was this great big counter with shelves and things and I used to think it was absolutely wonderful that he had made me this he also made me a cot for the air raid shelter as well I can't remember that I actually can't remember very much about the war apart from being carried down the back stairs and seeing all the bright lights in the sky well with the search lights that's about all and the aircraft going very low

over

and it's actually it's just a few well maybe over the last fifteen years twenty years I've actually stopped going under the bed clothes at night when a the planes come over low or covering my ears because obviously it was something (interruption) that ehm

something that frightened you

frightened me when I were young

(interruption) and

and the sirens (interruption) when they used to go off and then Parson's or one of the factories used to use that (pause) for ehm (pause) finishing

oh sirens (pause) yeah (pause) there's still there's still there's still a siren goes off I don't at (unclear) I don't know why it doesn't seem to be (pause) the end of shift or anything it it or unless it's just that the wind has to be in a certain direction before you hear it

mm-hm

but that always

reminds me

stops me in my tracks

yes well it's strange because where I'm living now obviously at RAF Boulmer eh (pause) (interruption) actually it's stopped it has actually stopped recently but when I first moved up there I used to hear it and I used to immediately think of the war hearing the sirens

oh it's a it's a heart stopping sound

mm

yeah we can look up because on the is is Boulmer not one of the places they're running down

yes (laughter) i it could well be

(unclear)

they've altered everything recently (interruption) they've eh put a lot of new things in so whether it used to be at five to nine every morning (pause) but eh but it doesn't seem to be

(interruption) could well be that (pause) that would get you out of bed (laughter)

it doesn't seem to be happening anymore

I can't I can't remember a lot about the war we had a later on in the war we used to have one of the I don't know which one but the the shelter that was a big solid metal table was that the Morrison Shelter

no I don't know the names

ehm we had one in the bottom of the garden because the guy next door (pause) well again just lately he's been saying was his house built a lot later than dad's because it's an entirely different pattern and I said no because I can remember the people from the house next door used to be a gate in the fence and they used to come through from their house to use our shelter and there was sort of

mm-hm

four bunk beds in the shelter and when the sirens went we used to be I can remember being taken out to the shelter

well we had (interruption) one in in our yard that we used to share the upstairs and downstairs

but ehm (pause) and downstairs

but there were also shelters (interruption) in the front street

(unclear) in the street yeah

there were front ones and I don't know who used those but (interruption) obviously we had our own

that's right I can remember them

but there were the big ones in the front street as well

I can remember them all being built up in the streets when I was young going down into Heaton and (interruption) seeing those yes they had the same sort of ones in the ehm the school yard

mm-hm (pause) mm-hm (pause) that's right

at Cragside

mm-hm

they wouldn't have been very much use because there were only sort of two courses of bricks weren't there

mm-hm

a bit bloody stupid really because if you hit hit one of them (pause) well there was a place I mean (NAME) remembers a lot more about the war and there was a place in North Shields where they hit a shelter like that and killed a hundred people

mm-hm

just flattened it down and he can remember that happening

well of course with living in Heaton you know they they bombed the eh railway

that's right

because they thought it was the Tyne so they were quite eh we we were actually quite near it all

well they bombed the school because they thought that was a factory High Heaton school

mm-hm

apparently they bombed that and I'm again we've just been telling the guy the estate agent who came to see dad's house (pause) that there's some cracks in the wall you see and he said he didn't like the look of those cracks and so I said 'well it was the bomb' and he said 'you what' and I said 'well the bomb' and he said oh no he didn't know about the bomb (laughter)

mm-hm

I said 'oh yeah the bottom of the street' you know you know where cr where Cotswold comes (laughter) down to the bottom and Cleveland goes right across

mm-hm (pause) that's right

just across the corner at the bottom of Cleveland it took took (pause) a double semi two semis and the one next door to it

mm-hm

flattened but I wasn't there then that was early in the war when we were evacuated

mm-hm

we were evacuated to eh (pause) Appleby we were I can re very few things I can remember about that (pause) ehm and I can remember (NAME) being born

well I can't really remember as I say I (interruption) (unclear) the war

(unclear) because I can remember (NAME) being born which was thirty nine

mm-hm

so there's (pause) occasions as you you'll be the same with your remembrances of the war

mm-hm

they'll just be these hazy

little bits

every so (interruption) often bits

mm-hm well I was born in forty so

mm

yeah

and eh

and my dad he didn't go into (interruption) the (unclear) because he was working at Vicker's making tanks so he wasn't eh he didn't go to war (interruption)

(interruption) no because he (interruption) no well I didn't know in that sort of way it didn't affect me very much because I didn't know very many people who did go

mm-hm

because as I say my father was (pause) was not fit with having this duodenal ulcer and my uncle (NAME) worked at Parson's so he he didn't have to go did you ever meet my uncle (NAME) he always used to

(NAME)

used to work in the test house

I can't remember

a charge man in the test house

I can't remember

ehm (pause) he didn't have to go and I don't know why my other uncles didn't have to go (unclear) the only one that went to war was my uncle (NAME) but he was a a regular airman he was in the RAF

mm-hm

as his career

well my one and only uncle uncle (NAME) who is still alive he went he was in the army (pause) mm

did he not work at Parson's before he left

well (pause) he was at Parson's when I were at Parson's he were there I don't know how long he'd been there before I really don't know where he worked before he went into the army at all

so he would he he sort of (interruption) (unclear)

but he was a motor mechanic so

mm perhaps he'd been in the

(unclear) I don't know I don't know (interruption) I've no idea

garage (unclear)

I've no idea

I suppose a thing like a motor mechanic would be more important in the army than (interruption) out of it

oh it would yes but he (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) making tanks (interruption) he'd be very useful in the war mm-hm (interruption)

(interruption) he was in the army (interruption) I can remember him coming home from war one day and I was always very very pleased to (pause) and I virtually rubbed the skin off my cheeks to get rosy cheeks for my uncle (NAME) coming home

(laughter)

(laughter) I had great sore cheeks (laughter)

oh

silly little things

mm-hm

yeah (pause) mm-hm

stuck

no no oh no

are you just about asleep

mm

are you just about asleep

yes she's having a lovely time listening (laughter) (pause) sitting there doing nothing

yes so

as I say (NAME) remembers all (NAME) has some fascinating stories about living in Tynemouth because of course Tynemouth really took it

oh yes

ehm (pause) because this another one of the things of people today that really gets me down when I think of the way that we and all the people we knew lived through the d the war nobody thought it was at all necessary to give us any counselling ehm (pause) because (NAME) used to have often he said he could remember the sirens going and then the guns

mm-hm

the guns would start and then the planes would come over

mm-hm

and every morning after a raid they would go out and (pause) roam the streets of Tynemouth looking for shrapnel

mm

and he once found a bit of shrapnel like this you know eh because dad had a bit of shrapnel I don't know whether it was the same time as this famous bomb (pause) but it had been it landed in our garden and it was in the drawer in his drawer of of treasures when we cleared the house unfortunately (NAME)'s taken it so I haven't got it anymore but I can remember dad's bit of shrapnel but (NAME) said (pause) that was nothing compared with the shrapnel that he used to have and then there was this other story of (NAME)'s (NAME)'s (NAME) and all his brothers were (pause) with (pause) sent out to work as soon as they could walk more or less

mm-hm

because his father was a bit of a (unclear) ehm (pause) and (NAME) was a delivery boy with his bike you know with the the eh (pause) basket in the front which (laughter) you never see these days either can you remember there always used to be the butcher boy and the baker boy and the candlestick maker boy who had these bikes with great big baskets in the front

(NAME) used to deliver well the cobbler (pause) that used to do all the shoes Gordon's at the top of Trewhitt Road (pause) he used to collect all the (interruption) shoes and put them in the basket and deliver them to the houses did (NAME) as a job (interruption)

(interruption) (unclear) (interruption) they don't get that anymore if you (laughter) want to get your shoes you've got to jolly well go and collect them yes

I know (pause) got to go and collect them yourself that's right

oh no but there was and anyway this morning (NAME) had was was cycling along and he saw this box in the middle of the road you see and being a lad he got off his bike and went and (laughter) kicked this box (laughter) and he said he nearly broke his leg because it was heavy so he picked it up (pause) and look and no I think he must have taken it to the police station and looked inside and it was a cheese a whole cheese in this box (pause) ehm and so he took it to the police station and nobody ever claimed it so he they they they got the cheese and of course (pause) in the war this whole cheese was a real boon

uh-huh I bet

so he had his cheese yeah and there used to be lots of jobs for people didn't there you know

oh yes

there used to be a bit

yes

the only thing that you can do now is deliver the papers

yes

I can remember delivering papers with the lads when I was a teenager but I suppose (interruption) (unclear)

well my mam would never let me do that

no well my mam didn't let me do that (laughter) either

(interruption) no

but I did you used to get you used to get to get a bob a shilling a day and half a crown on a Sunday

well I can't remember I didn't do anything like that I used to go to the pictures the Escala on Chillingham Road

I bet you didn't get in for a jam jar though did you

no

no (laughter)

I had to pay (interruption) (unclear) had to pay

our dad used to get in for a jam jar

yes so did my mam and dad

(laughter)

they used to sit in the (interruption) (unclear)

(interruption) they used to get in for a jam jar (unclear) (laughter) because

they used they used these changes to the pictures as well eh (pause) twice a week (pause) and eh there was a eh matinee on a Saturday afternoon so if you wished you could go to the Escala three times a week

a week (pause) oh (pause) do you know how much you used to pay I can remember (interruption) paying one and

I can't remember

one and nine it was at the Lyric when (interruption) we went to the Lyric (interruption)

(interruption) I can't remember (interruption) I can't remember

we used

but we always got a flea

(laughter)

used to (laughter) always come out with a flea from the Escala

yes well that was the sort of place the Escala was

yes you always used to get a flea

dad can remember his mother taking the three of them (pause) because he there were three boys and she used to take them into the Escala and they used to sit on wooden benches at the front

mm-hm

and she used to take them in and sit them on the wooden bench and go (pause) wherever she was going do her shopping (pause) go to (unclear) and then come back and collect them off this wooden bench at the front of the Escala and they just used to sit there and watch the picture through however many times till till mother came and took them home and that must have been the nineteen twenties so

incredible

we used to go to the Lyric as I say

well (NAME) and I did all wor courting in the Escala

(laughter)

it was the only place to go you went upstairs in the eh in the circle and there were double seats

oh yes yes there was double (interruption) seats there

and in fact if you trust me we were the only ones in the whole of the circle (laughter)

(laughter) (unclear)

in fact (laughter) (unclear) (pause) yes the usherette used to eh just sort of smile and she she would just point her torch to the seat at the seats because (laughter) we used to go to the same ones each time (laughter) oh yeah (laughter)

(laughter) (unclear) their money (laughter) I think it was the

there was nowhere else to go of course there was no (laughter) night clubs

no (pause) no

you either went to the Escala (pause) or you went to the Blacks Regal (pause) at the top of (laughter) of Shields Road there

yeah I know Blacks Regal we used to go to (laughter) the Blacks Regal

or occasionally to the Lyric

to the Lyric

ehm and that were it or eh (pause) dancing

yeah well that was it you see we used to go we used to go we used to be at the Saturday night hop at the at Saint George's Presbyterian

yes and

and we used to go there every well I used to spend most of my time at Saint George's because we used to go to the dances on a Saturday night and then we used to go to church on a Sunday

mm-hm

we used to go to church three times on a (laughter) Sunday we used to go in the morning then we used to all go down the Dene and have our cup of coffee in the Deep Dene Cafe

yes

and then we used to go back in the afternoon to junior church

mm-hm

and then we used to go back at night to the six o'clock service and then we all used to go (pause) walking through the Dene

well

after that

on Sunday I used to go to see my grandma that's my dad's mum on Sunday morning with my dad every Sunday come home my mam used to have the dinner on the table (pause) my nana my grandma had a garden in High Heaton so if it was made the mint sauce the mint used to come from their garden and ehm (pause) we used to go to the Sunday school in the afternoon because you were not allowed to play out

oh no

it was forbidden

oh

you just did not play out

play out on a Sunday

and being an only child I used to be bored to tears on a Sunday I mean there was no such things as tellies or anything and a Sunday night I used to go back to church and we used to have a film show it was Simonside Methodist Church and you used to have (pause) a film show called 'The Guild of Light'

oh

and

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sheet beetle metre I beat it gate paint fatal later I hate it eighty eight bet bent felt fettle better I met him hat ant battle batter drat it cart can't carter pot totter bottle font salt I got it caught daughter chortle haunt I bought it boat total motor I wrote it put footer (pause) put it on put it in boot Bootle hooter bite title mitre pint bite it out (pause) fount outer pit bitter brittle print I hit it hilt beak wreck back I seek it I wreck it I back it bank lamp leap cap steep it lap it apron matron micro Metro leprosy petrol acrid atlas hopper butter hacker topple bottle hackle whisper custard after whisker doctor chapter jumper hunter bunker appear attend occur appearance attendance occurrence alpine altar polka staircase half past half cut automatic Jupiter (pause) epileptic sheet read breeze key gate made may boat load (pause) go boot brewed booze brew out loud cow sight side size sigh sighed knife five knives dive dial Friday diary (pause) I've got to do it tomorrow I had to put it off he meant what he said he's booking separate tables for supper a simple sentence pick up a packet of fire lighters pack it in or beat it he's putting it off he's put in a bid jump up on the tractor he won't do it that in a hurry put a comma in it