went for a cup of tea and that because I mean you didn't drink in them days (pause) and eh (pause) then we realized that he didn't even have a film (pause) in the camera this was a way of chatting you up (laughter) wasn't it

(laughter) it was yes

he's been a thingy photographer ever since haven't you

I have

a funny photographer

(unclear) tells (interruption) me that

he takes you in funny places funny ways which you didn't want to be taken he knows he's got a reputation for that (pause) so well you start your end where (pause) you were brought up and (pause) we were both brought up in the same area actually but we didn't know each other (pause) (interruption) did we

no not exactly in the same area well we were eh

of course we were (interruption) both in the same (interruption)

(interruption) eh later on in eh (interruption) in the years that followed

both in the (interruption) same street (interruption)

(interruption) but ehm I was brought (interruption) I was actually born in eh (pause) down by the quayside

mm (pause) (interruption) were you not born in any hospital (interruption)

(interruption) that's where I (interruption) yes yes

well you never (interruption) telt us that

in Jubilee Street Jubilee Road

Jubilee Road were you born in the Princess Mary (interruption) as well

in the Princess Mary yes

well there you are I didn't even know that

aye yes

I was born there as well

I was born in there and eh (pause) we lived down in eh (pause) down the right by the quayside and then we just moved around from there I forget how many houses we actually lived in (laughter)

aye your mother was a bit of a wanderer you would come home from school and somebody would say 'oh your your mother's shifted' (laughter) (interruption) hadn't she

(laughter) you know she was a bit like a Romany actually (laughter) oh she was (laughter)

aye but she's still alive she's eh eighty seven this year

yes eighty seven this year

aye

and eh (pause) as I say we just moved from house to house (pause) and then eh (pause) then when I went in the army she actually moved again after that (laughter) from one from the house that she was in

aye but she would have moved a few times while you were evacuated you've got to tell her about while you were evacuated

oh yes well as I say and ehm (pause) I first went to eh Morpeth can't remember exactly what year it was and then eh (pause) her husband was in the army (pause) eh but we didn't stay there that long there because I think she (pause) just (pause) couldn't take she didn't have any children of her own (pause) and eh (pause) I think she couldn't handle

(laughter)

two strange children (laughter) under her own roof (unclear) style eh we came back home and eh (pause) that's my sister and myself the youngest eh the younger sister at that time (pause) and then eh we got evacuated to Stannington which wasn't too far away again (laughter) eh she was a very old lady and then she couldn't hack it either and then eh we came back home and then eh (pause) the next thing I knew we were going up to Cumberland Keswick eh (pause) spent nearly four years there altogether and I think I was the last evacuee to leave Keswick

but you didn't want to leave did you

no no I would have stopped up there all the time if I could have and eh

the lady who had him just died (pause) last year

oh

we kept in touch didn't we

oh yes

well (interruption) he lost touch (pause) never went until about twenty five weren't you (interruption)

well I lost touch I didn't go back for quite a while (interruption) and then until we were

oh you must have been older than twenty five

I was older than twenty five

because we had the two girls

because we had the two girls (interruption) by then

and he went on a trip from work up to Cumberland and he thought he would look for them didn't you

yes aye

and he found her

mm

and she was delighted

yeah

and we kept the relationship going right (interruption) until last year well we still keep in touch with her daughter

oh aye

mm

because he didn't realize that she'd had a daughter after he had left

mm

you see when he'd gone to the house this girl had come to the door and (pause) well she hadn't a clue who he was and he didn't have a clue (laughter) who she was but as soon as he said who he was they were delighted weren't they

oh yes yes

he called her (interruption) aunt (NAME)

they were over the moon

and uncle (NAME) didn't you

yes I did

but you used to have to look after the kids there didn't you

I did the only the young lad at the time their only son they had I used to have to look after him that was one of my jobs eh I even got a job up there while I was there on a Saturday job

yeah

you know sometimes at night when we'd work for the grocery (pause) store that I used to work for (pause) delivering the groceries to the hotels and different (pause) houses and eh then I worked for a (pause) gardener who used to (interruption) have a stall in the market place in Keswick I worked for him for quite a while when I was a lad (pause) eh it was a happy time up at Keswick for me eh after being a townie sort of style you know and eh (pause) the uncle my uncle as I called I always called him uncle eh him and his brother eh (pause) brother used to take me for walks every on a Sunday especially eh (pause) and we used to walk all around eh Keswick (interruption)

(interruption) a market gardener (interruption) the fells

the fells and etcetera

mm

round Borrowdale and everywhere

mm

eh until he went in the army and then that put a stop to that

mm

and eh (pause) as I say I spent nearly four years there altogether (pause) and then I went back to Newcastle eh during that time eh at Keswick I only came home twice

mm

I did eh by myself eh but there was always somebody on the bus who would look after you

mm

and eh (pause) I can still remember it as plain as I as I can you know as anything and eh (pause) as I say they were very happy times for me up at Keswick eh

oh she was a lovely woman

she was (interruption) yes

she was really nice wasn't she

yes yes

eh typical country (pause) you know she was plump and she was really nice aunt (NAME) I think he's he's well he thought a great deal of her actually he was upset you know when she died

mm

last June

mm

and then you went in the army after that well

well eh (unclear)

between (unclear) (laughter)

yes I went in the army eh well the very first job I had was eh (pause) in a fish shop I used to deliver the fish to the hotels you know and then eh I became a (pause) well a counter hand as you would say nowadays

fishmonger

a fishmonger

mm-hm

eh doing all the filleting of (interruption) the fish

actually that was just at Oxford Street wasn't it you know in Newcastle where ehm

New Bridge Street

mm

aye where the where the library is (interruption) used to be a fresh fish shop there Mole's it was (pause) beautiful shop like wasn't it

(unclear)

oh yes yes

uh-huh

as fish shops went during those days and eh

(unclear)

I was there from when I was fourteen until I went in the army (pause) and eh of course in those days it was only eighteen months but (pause) when I was six months off my time there they decided to stretch it to two years (laughter)

oh

well I was in eh Egypt at the time at the at that time so I wasn't really bothered you know

no

eh it was really enjoyable out there

this was on National Service

that was in eh when I was in National Service yes yes

mm

eh I tried to sign on for another year but they wouldn't have it so I said 'oh well'

they wouldn't have it because they wanted three year (interruption) and you weren't prepared to commit yourself to that (interruption)

(interruption) (unclear) you know (pause) I wasn't prepared stopping (interruption) for another three years (laughter)

mm

yes so (unclear)

what did you think of that time then

eh

doing National Service

National Service I thoroughly enjoyed it I did yes eh (pause) started at eh doing my first basic training at eh Aldershot eh after a fortnight we went down to Portsmouth and then eh done nearly (pause) twelve weeks or more there and then we were posted to our (pause) respective eh

camps

camps you know

mm

eh it was an army eh an ammunition dump actually it was where I went to (unclear) and eh down besides Shrewsbury (pause) eh (pause) I think it was eh (pause) Averbury or something like that I I can't remember exactly the name of it now but eh I wasn't there long and then eh a friend well he was my friend there for quite a while because eh we met at Aldershot and we more or less stuck together at eh (pause) Portsmouth you know we both managed to get eh posted to the same camp after that you know

aye

so we had some eh good times together and then eh we were put in for to go abroad and eh we got posted abroad but unfortunately we got sent to different places (laughter) he went to Kenya and I went to eh Egypt Port Said

mm-hm

so

but I mean the point (interruption) is it was good for you wasn't it (interruption)

(interruption) spent nearly eighteen months in Egypt (interruption) oh yes yes I think eh

and I mean if they had it these days (pause) I think it would give a bit more ehm discipline

well it wouldn't make

to the kids

oh yes yes

you know although then again the army wouldn't take them now because I mean you have to have O levels

mm

you know

yes they're a bit eh (laughter) fussy who they take now (laughter)

aye they are

they just took anybody in those days you know

no but I mean it was a good thing though wasn't it I mean (interruption) and you

mm oh it was a good thing yes

you saw life that you mightn't have saw

it was surprising I mean eh the number of people who were really backward in those days and they just eh you know they were in the (pause) same camp as me at the time or in the same basic training area

mm

and then but then again they were transferred you know I mean they after you'd done the tests etcetera

mm

they were always put into the Pioneer Corps do you know what the Pioneer Corps was

no

well they were the ones who dug all the

ah

trenches and done the more or less the dirty work in those days you know

mm

oh well long before then because I mean (interruption) (unclear)

I think that still happens in these days

I don't know if there's a Pioneer Corps now as such

no

you know and eh

oh I don't think so not in the army I don't know

mm

but I mean in the in this day and age I mean I mean anybody who's (pause) a little bit retarded (interruption) they give them all the menial jobs because we get them in our (pause) firm we had a one (pause) ehm (pause) she just left a fortnight ago didn't she I told you she was like (interruption)

(interruption) yeah (pause) oh yes (interruption) oh yes

on a ten weeks course this (NAME) she was twenty seven ehm a young twenty seven like ehm (pause) and she was sent to our firm and I mean she was working from nine in the morning (pause) ehm (pause) until five at night eh just four days but (pause) for that she only got ten pound off the government on top of her dole

mm

you know she was doing all them hours

mm

and she was doing the same as us

mm

but more menial

mm

uh-huh

you know they tend to give them that kind of thing and and it's not right

no

mind this girl she wasn't I I shouldn't say this it but it's a term I use she wasn't daft because she used to say 'well I think it's time for my break' (laughter) things like this do you know what I mean where if you had started a job you'd be tending to wait until they said 'well you go and get your break' (laughter) but she didn't no no

mm

no

she didn't ehm (pause) but they do that they do they just use them I think

well they it wasn't that they (pause) well those that they sent to Pioneer Corps they weren't (pause) backward eh as (interruption) as such you know (unclear) nothing mentally they just didn't get the ehm

(interruption) they were illiterate

illiterate (interruption) as as such you know they hadn't had their education or anything you know I mean it's surprising how many didn't in those days and I certainly imagine that there's quite a few now when you read the papers

hadn't had an education (pause) mm

mm

you know they get on about how many people can't read

mm

mm

you know

yes

and (interruption) you

well it's amazing in this day and age (interruption) isn't it

it was worse in those days than it is now but it's still (interruption) surprising how many (pause) can't read even now

well I mean a lot of kids (pause) they won't send to school

mm

aye

you know not that they're going in later life like going to eh going to be taught how to

that's right

read

yeah

do you know what I mean

well I mean let's face it I mean during the war I mean you really lost a lot of schooling because I wasn't evacuated

mm

like I told you on my phone on the phone my mother used to say 'well if I'm ganning to die you're ganning with us' (laughter) because there was only me and her you see my dad was in the army and he went to ehm (pause) he was in the Burma campaign so there was like her and I were on wor own for about three and a half year you know and ehm (pause) she said no way was I ganning to be evacuated like so I mean (pause) we saw it all you know I mean ehm you'd get into bed and (pause) the sirens would go and up you would get and (pause) and they had well that's how they got the name siren suits which was a they used to make them out of coats and everything and what what the suit consisted of was well just like what they call the ski suits now only it wasn't as (pause) (interruption) expensive stuff you know you just put your feet in your legs in put your like a it was all in one and then the zip was up and you had this hood like a pixie hat effect and that was zipped up that so that you could get into these quick and up to the shelter

(unclear) (pause) (unclear) zip

mm (pause) oh

and that's how they called them siren suits and where I lived was in Shieldfield and your shelter I mean when I think about it now it was a a death trap it was Dampney's Paintworks which is British Paints now and it was a big building and there was about oh six floors now on each floor there was not just c tins of paint there was drums of paint and

mm basic materials you know (pause) (unclear)

varnish and everything was just up (pause) on these floors now the shelter you went down into the basement that was the shelter well that's where we used to go but I mean say Dampney's was like (pause) where that tree is there (pause) eh and the street was that where that row of houses is there now we went in this night and it was a bad (pause) it was a bad raid you know and you were running and the guns were going and the shrapnel was gannin all over and you were running (pause) up and got in and we'd only been in well we must have just got down the stairs and there was a why a terrific bang you oh God keep talking (unclear)

you'll not stop it

(unclear) carry on

well as I say I didn't have much to do with eh air raids I was the only air raid I was really in where they dropped bombs on Newcastle was the first bombs that actually did drop in Newcastle at eh (pause) Spiller's

mm

eh (pause) I believe at the time they were going for the Tyne bridge and eh (pause) they hit Spiller's which was close by there

mm-hm

and eh at the time I was up eh beside Shieldfield Park and there was a big eh underground shelter there but you know we were told once the air raid sirens go come back to the air raid shelter where you're supposed to go to (laughter) you know I mean (unclear) your family at that time

it's a friend of mine who was brought up in Newcastle

oh

and I told her that you want another lady

oh

so she said she'll come down in forty five minutes to give us time to finish this and

mm

you could do her here if you like

oh right

aye so it'll (laughter) because she's

(unclear)

knows a lot doesn't she (NAME)

oh (NAME) yes

and she can (pause) talk

mm-hm

eh so like I was saying about the (pause) the (interruption) raid and there was this terrific bang and the lights just went out and the water was pouring in I mean we were all kids and you couldn't find your mother it was it was terrifying and then the wardens came and said it was all clear and we could come up and when we come up now that street just wasn't there it was just completely gone

raid

mm

and you I mean I was I would be about (pause) ehm (pause) well the war started in thirty nine so I was seven

there was only the pub on the corner there

aye aye I'd be about ten then but it's vivid in your mind that

mm

and eh (pause) oh (laughter) it it's funny how the things that you remember because I mean we came up and we looked and (pause) took it in I mean all the mothers you know you could imagine my God you know and (pause) some people had went in the shelter but some people hadn't bothered because people didn't they used to gan under the stairs and think that was

mm

enough well I mean they were completely wiped out but there used to be a cake shop there oh it was a lovely cake shop she used to do all her own things but why we used to like to go in was funny she had this cat I mean the cat used to sit on the counter which wouldn't be (laughter) allowed now you know I mean they talk about hygiene you know but this cat had two different coloured eyes and the kids used to go in just to look at this cat and we that was the first thing you thought of 'oh the cat' you know you didn't think about the people

no

it was this cat had gone but oh there was some awful things and then there was another street we came up another street had gone and people had these (pause) ehm steel shelters they used to have in the house and it it was a a great big square thing it was like a cage actually because it was all wired around and a steel top and they used to put tablecloths on because you couldn't shift it in and out because it was so heavy and that was when Sarah Street was hit

yes

and when we came around these shelters had been blown into the street I mean the people were all right but I mean you could imagine how shocked they were

mm

there oh there were some awful because where I lived I lived in ehm (pause) Bermonsey Street and and they bombed right the way round because they went for the railway (pause) they went for Dampney's that night fortunately for us they missed it eh I mean they'd already hit the goods station I mean that burnt for three days but and you know us it was that area that they wanted

mm

and eh (pause) but I like I say we were talking about school and we used to say used to say what why we didn't know anybody I divn't think anybody had watches in them days you couldn't afford them but if somebody always knew the time

mm

now if the air raid went on until after twelve (pause) you didn't have to go to school of the morning you didn't go to school until twelve o'clock

mm

so we used to think oh is it after twelve (laughter) is it after twelve so you didn't have to go to school the next morning but I mean let's face it I mean if you're down there you know until one o'clock in the morning then coming up to get ready for school for nine o'clock the next morning it was a bit

mm

traumatic like and I mean eh (pause) but like I say there was just me and my mother and ehm (pause) I mean we had some good times because it was just us two but I mean there was some hard times I mean the rationing you know I mean

mm

what you used to get then I mean I can remember I think some well some people older than me'll say 'oh I'm going for my rations' and this is where it stems from because you went on a Monday with your ration book and you got what you were supposed to get was with I think it was about (pause) a quarter of butter

mm

ehm about a pound of sugar and a quarter of tea and (pause) I think we got four ounces of bacon two eggs (pause) ehm (pause) that kind of thing you know you got that on a Monday

mm

and if it didn't last until the Friday (laughter) well it was tough you know what I mean and as regards your tea and that because if your tea run out well it was camp coffee you know I can not drink camp coffee to this day

mm

because I remember that so vividly and I mean somebody used to come down and say 'oh they've got oranges in' so we had to run up to the (pause) well it was the Co op stores was at the top of our street and stand and they stamped your book and you maybe got two oranges oh and if the bananas were it (laughter) I've seen we stand and you get two bananas after standing for an hour you know

mm

the kids don't realize what you didn't get

yes

and I mean the sweets were rationed so you you had coupons for them and it was a E for a quarter of sweets and if you had a D it was two ounces of sweets so what we used to do when we used to gan the pictures was ehm (pause) cocoa powder you know

yes

and mix it with sugar and that was your sweets for the pictures you know sitting there like this

I know

I mean you'd come with (laughter) (unclear) like that or ehm

ovaltine (interruption) tablets

ovaltine tablets

(unclear)

and ehm

which you (interruption) didn't need eh

what was the other one sulphur tablets because we (interruption) we all must have had lovely skins (laughter) because you'd (laughter) eat sulphur tablets (laughter) for sweets (laughter)

yes (pause) (unclear)

oh

so that was your sweets like if your sweet ration run out like you know so well you would remember all that

oh yes yes

(unclear) had a ration although auntie (NAME) would have the ration book (interruption) in Keswick you know

oh (unclear) yes she did yes

but eh

that's when I worked for the (pause) when I started working for the grocery store there ehm

you got a bit more

we got a little bit more (laughter)

(laughter) aye aye but eh

I mean it was the going thing then you know I mean if you worked for somebody well (pause) you got the benefit of it

aye well that's (interruption) that's

the butcher's eh etcetera eh they won't thems that work in the grocery shop

aye well we were (interruption) we were

weren't penalized as (laughter) for pension eh that

ration

ration card was concerned

aye well my mother knew somebody who was in like the meat trade so we never went short of meat

mm

you know you could get well it was stewing steak and you got your joint and things like that you know I could never remember we being (pause) short of (interruption) meat but butter and (pause) oh

short of meat (pause) (unclear)

mm

biscuits and I well I loved biscuits ehm (pause) and then we well the war was over and (pause) I remember my dad coming home I was coming from school (pause) and went in the house and seen the kit bag there and you knew he was home then you know it were it was funny though but I mean (pause) I mean they weren't houses like these I mean if you'd had houses like these eeh I mean what did we move into (laughter) (interruption) when we were married

(unclear) (pause) two rooms

aye well you couldn't call it two rooms really could you

well it was two rooms

aye you

(unclear)

you would have got it in here

oh yes (interruption) (unclear)

in this room

oh yes yes

aye but we thought it was great didn't we

we did yes

eeh and whoever had had it before he must have had a gallon of dark brown paint (laughter)

(laughter)

because everything (laughter) was brown (interruption) paint (laughter)

remember in those days it was either brown paint or green paint oh and sometimes cream paint

aye

but it was mostly green and brown

yes depressing

everything

it was

was brown or green

I mean (interruption) the house that

where was it

that was in Shieldfield

Shieldfield

that was in Bermonsey Street (interruption) where I had lived

that was Bermonsey Street where (NAME) had lived

mm

aye

and actually it was my auntie who had eh lived there but she moved out and she got a different different house and eh she put our name forward for (laughter) this

why (unclear)

well I'm saying house it was just the two rooms eh it had the (pause) we were in the front and at the back it was just one big room which (pause) again would just be about eh

that's where (NAME) and eh (pause) (interruption) (unclear)

seventeen seventeen feet square

aye

and they had to (pause) live and sleep in that one room you know

they had a little girl didn't they (NAME)

yes yes yes they (interruption) (unclear)

I mean we had no family like

no not as early as that we didn't

no well I mean we were married how long we married when we were twenty one well I was twenty one when we married ehm and our (NAME) wasn't born (pause) until I was twenty three but eh I mean we met and (pause) got engaged and married within nine month

mm

didn't we

yes yes

aye I met him in the February and we started going out in the March (pause) we were engaged in the July on my twenty first and we were married on November twenty eighth

mm

and everybody was saying 'oh marry in haste repent at leisure blah blah' but eh (unclear)

but we're still together after forty years

(laughter) I divn't know how like (laughter) it hasn't been that bad has it really

no no

no

I mean we've had a (pause) lovely family and

aye got two daughters (interruption) and four grandchildren

we've two daughters

mm-hm

and eh but we've had our ups and downs you know haven't we though because I mean

oh yes we had

I mean he went to work for the United didn't you

yes

and eh the wages were seven pound a week

at that time

aye but I mean that was the wage

oh yes (interruption) yes

and I mean wor rent (pause) in them two rooms was eight shilling which is equivalent to forty pence isn't it

yes

ehm (pause) and then when we came up here it was like slum clearance and the rent went to twenty eight shilling and we're thinking mm well how the hell we're (laughter) ganning to get twenty eight shilling you know when you've been (interruption) used to paying eight shilling but we managed didn't we

mm

oh yes yes

and (interruption) when I were

there was hundreds like us at the time

oh aye

moving up to a new

but you know we were happy

area like this (interruption) you know

because everybody was the same you know (interruption) nobody (pause) had nothing and they would help you then you know I mean if somebody baked (pause) they would say 'oh well I've baked ehm (pause) there's a tart for (NAME)'s bait' or something or if I I when I used to bake every Wednesday well I still do ehm (pause) you would say 'there's some scones for the bairns' and things like that people did that you know

mm

mm

they'd come in and give you a hand

mostly

but nowadays they just come in to see what you've got

it was neighbourly (interruption) in them days you didn't have to (pause) put big locks on your doors you know and you could leave your doors open and have no fear whatsoever

that's been the worst change

no

but eh not like nowadays

but I mean you worked how long did you work for the United

well thirty seven years altogether

aye

I did

when you left you've got to (pause) keep this conversation going for her your it's your turn now I've talked a lot

(laughter)

(laughter)

that's nothing unusual (laughter) (pause) mm-hm and as I say I worked for United eh well for thirty one years well thirty three years altogether for United then they got privatized (pause) and eh

and they changed to Northumbria

(unclear) somewhere they called it Northumbria but after that I worked for them for four years and I left (pause) and eh

aye he was sixty then

yes mm-hm then I worked for a (pause) electrical contractor after that for a year (pause) eh (pause) I hurt my back and eh (pause) I've been on the sick ever since

but because he hurt his back brought to light that he had a an aneurysm (pause) which he didn't know they didn't know how long he'd had it on the main ao you know the aorta

mm-hm

they discovered he had a aneurysm it was it's like a bubble

mm-hm

it was getting bigger and bigger ehm (pause) so really speaking it was fortunate he'd hurt his back because they wouldn't have seen that and if it bursts well that's it you're finished

mm

eh (pause) so he had an operation last September for it

oh right

ehm (pause) it was dicey like you know and there was three fellows in when he was in wasn't there

mm-hm yes (unclear)

and they died

(unclear)

one was prepared for the operation same as him but he died on the table because he'd bleed to death another one they'd drove him up from Dryburn because it had ruptured and he didn't get in time I divn't know what happened to the other one

oh (unclear)

so I says to him 'well somebody up there (laughter) likes you' because he's not supposed to believe in (pause) anything like this but I think he does really don't you

yes I think so

(laughter) aye after that

so you're fine now

oh yes yes

clean bill of health now

clean bill of health yes apart from the arthritis and my spondylitis in the neck (laughter)

(laughter)

mm-hm

but I mean eh (pause) but I think it life now is all take no giving I think that's what the problem is you know ehm (pause) it's definitely a different way of life (pause) now I mean (pause) (laughter) it's like what you've got that counts or it seems to be like that I mean it's I mean I know it's not important what you've got eh but for a lot of people it is you know where as in the old days when the war was on and that the war to me brought people closer together

mm

you know and I mean plus the fact I mean (pause) I mean I can remember my mother had friends whose husbands were like in the navy and that you know and the ship would go down and you can remember things like that you know

mm

how upset they were and things like that ehm (pause) I mean my dad was like I say he was in the Burma campaign and he was in what they called the Forgotten Army the Fourteenth Army in Kohima he got a (pause) scr scroll and everything for it didn't he

mm-hm

and eh (pause) well my mother was a bit psychic you know she was really funny and eh we used to have a photograph on the wall of him and this night there was her and me sitting I mean there was no tellies or nowt I mean (pause) no electricity and eh we she was listening to the wireless and this night we were sitting (pause) and she must have been sitting looking at the photo and she said 'oh my God' I said well I was frightened when she used to that and I'd say 'what's the matter' 'oh there's something just went down your father's neck' and I oh I says 'howay man' (laughter) you know (laughter) and eh she said 'there is there's something happened to him' she says 'and it's his neck' I said 'oh get away man' and anyway about oh (pause) I think it was about four days later we got a (pause) ehm (pause) telegram from the War Office to say he'd been injured you know and the date was that day you know it had happened and sure enough it was his neck

(unclear)

but he had got shrapnel in his neck and she knew that but she was funny like that wasn't she (interruption) my mother

oh she was (interruption) yes

eeh aye I mean he used to get on great with her didn't you

I did yes

you know she was canny

mm-hm

but eh (pause) you know it's just things like that like I say I mean (pause) when we got married ehm (pause) and we had these two rooms I mean like I say there was no electricity it was just gas mantles (pause) you shared a sink (pause) on the landing just a cold water sink mind and you went downstairs into the backyard and there was four families shared the toilet I mean you can imagine that ehm (pause) and in the winter the pipes used to freeze didn't they

oh yes yes

and then the when the little bit heat come they used to burst (laughter) you were up to here with water (laughter) oh it was terrible wasn't it

mm

but you just it was part of life you know and we thought well we thought we were great

yes

because like I say I mean the two rooms we got I mean he decorated them lovely didn't you

I did

and put the

(unclear)

modern fireplace in which consisted of a tiled hearth

mm

asbestos at the back which I mean is lethal now but it was asbestos at the back wasn't it

yes

and then put the surrounds around it we though it was lovely didn't we

we did

aye but when he papered the walls there was no corners like this (laughter) you know the walls had been papered that many times it was just round

was it

(laughter)

and when the kids came on the scene if you didn't watch them you know (laughter) they would poke their fingers in the thing

yes

didn't they ehm (pause) oh aye and we used to gan I used to have to go to the wash house because in like I say you had no facilities at all ehm (pause) I remember the first time we went there eeh I thought it was dreadful eeh God a great big place and all these sinks and (pause) you had these little poss sticks and have you heard of poss sticks

mm-hm

have you

mm-hm

eh

a scrubbing board

(laughter) well you didn't have a scrubbing board you had a scrubbing brush and these

mm-hm

things were in front of you they just looked like fish shop fryers and you used to scrub everything and chuck them into boil you know that was the way (interruption) you had to wash and then they had these big clothes horses you used to pull out of the wall which were heated you'd dry your clothes on that like you know but you had to be careful somebody didn't (pause) pinch your things when (laughter) you weren't looking (laughter) you know well I mean I was only (pause) twenty three (pause) when I had our (NAME) you can imagine how I felt I oh God aye now when you think eeh when I think automatic washers and a big house and garden (pause) it would have been lovely

mm (pause) yeah

(unclear) you didn't only go to the communal eh washing up place you used to have to go to the communal baths as well you know

oh yes

wey you had no facilities you know

yeah

to get a bath no you didn't

to get a bath you had to go there to get a bath every night

that was the one in the city

eh Gibson Street eh or New Bridge Street

mm

it was on the (interruption) corner of Gibson Street and it's still there next to eh (pause) Saint Dominic's church

it's still there that building (pause) it's still there

mm-hm

eh it's just I don't know what they use it for now I don't know if the swimming baths are still there or whatever

I think it is

is it oh

aye it was a swimming baths and a (pause) hot water baths and the wash house what they call the wash house you know and (pause) I mean I suppose we were lucky because we lived beside it really (pause) just had to more or less come down the street and then across the main road but I mean some people walked for miles you know you used to get an old pram and put the basket of washing on

mm

and push it there and just hope somebody didn't pinch your pram

mm-hm

while you were in and that's true

mm

I mean when I tell our lasses now (pause) 'oh mother that was the olden days' I says 'aye well you should have had some of it'

(laughter)

(laughter)

you know and you hear the (pause) but I mean (pause) well we couldn't gan out drinking I mean we didn't have the money but I mean you didn't did you

as such no no

no

once a week

I used to go and play darts I used to go to the pictures with my auntie (NAME)

mm-hm

of course one had to stop in with the bairns like you know but I mean we had two little bairns in them two rooms (pause) because I mean when we got the well we got a flat up here first ehm (pause) (NAME) was eleven month aye

I mean when we moved up here yes (interruption) (unclear)

(NAME) was two and a half

mm

no she was three and a half ehm (pause) eeh well we thought it was brilliant didn't we

we did

eeh the electric lights

yes

eeh eeh remember when we moved in the flat and we

mm

well we would have with just having two rooms we didn't have a lot of furniture because you couldn't put a lot of furniture in so we had like a a bed settee you know

mm

and eh until we got some (pause) bedroom furniture like you know and remember that night when we first went in and we went (pause) to bed we put the bed down and that and (pause) bairns were in bed and you automatically went to put pull the chain for the mantle (unclear) (laughter) forgot we had electricity we just

it took some getting used to you know

aye

(unclear)

going from the gas lamp to the electricity you know

mm

you automatically went you even picked the matches up

aye

off the mantelpiece to light (laughter) the light (laughter) but

(laughter)

you know 'we've got switches now' (laughter)

oh it was funny it was good though and then well they give us the flat because we had two girls well just the year before we moved up here my mother died eh so my dad was like on his own he said he was all right didn't he

yes

but he wasn't I mean he lived for a year on his own but he was (pause) he well he would have drank his self to his death to death to be quite honest because I mean he was coming in from work (pause) getting something to eat and going straight to the bar you know so we said we would take him and we got this house

uh-huh

and we've been here ever since because I mean my mother's been dead (pause) I was twenty six when she died

mm-hm

so they our (NAME) was only eleven month (pause) aye and (NAME) was three and a half

mm

ehm (pause) when we moved up here and then he came up and we've been here ever since and he just died (pause) well he lived with we twenty four year before he died

mm

been dead ten year this month and she's been dead thirty five year

mm-hm

thirty five year mm (pause) but ehm I mean you it was I remember more the laughs really you know you I think you do

well you always remember the good times you don't remember the bad think of the bad times you don't

but I mean we did have I mean money was really tight wasn't it

oh yes (interruption) yes

I mean I've seen him (pause) on a Sunday the ice cream man's coming round you know and the bairns have wanted an ice cream not on a Sunday (interruption) on a Thursday

no no (pause) on a Thursday

ehm (pause) and he's had sixpence for his (pause) bus fare because I mean you had to go from here to Jesmond Road you know for his job

mm

and he's give the bairns the sixpence for their ice cream and got up early and walked

mm

to Jesmond Road you know so that they could have an ice cream you know (unclear) I mean there was that side of it but I like I say we were happy weren't we

oh yes (interruption) yes

you know

(unclear)

I mean I used to knit (pause) and my friend used to make their dresses you know and so that's what you did you know I mean really by some standards I mean we were we were practically well off compared to some who had stacks of kids you know what I mean

mm-hm

it must have been dreadful really (pause) but I think eh now (pause) ehm I think the young ones these days get far too much I mean mine included

mm

you know I mean what they get for Christmas I mean (pause) well I mean what did you get for Christmas

not a lot

(laughter)

not a lot

well howay then

eh an orange an apple eh a banana

a banana

a tangerine

God (interruption) he was worse than me (interruption)

(interruption) (unclear) (interruption) and eh a selection box

yeah if you were lucky

if we were lucky

aye because look how many were your family was there though

oh there was quite a few there was well that at the time there was only the three of us of course

mm

just the (interruption) three of us at that time

well I was a bit luckier like because I was the only one I can remember the stocking hanging up and the there'd be brand new pennies in the toe (pause) and an orange and an apple and (pause) bits and pieces nuts and things like that

mm

ehm (pause) but I would get a doll you know because I remember once ehm (pause) got this doll and I mean (pause) well to everybody else it was beautiful because it was all (unclear) clothes and things like that beautiful doll but the the lass down the street who we used to play with her mother had like a lot of bairns and eh (pause) so hers was just like a cloth doll but the clothes come off you know there was like (interruption) cardigans and dresses and well I thought that was lovely so I swapped my doll for (laughter) hers

oh

(laughter)

my mother wasn't very pleased (laughter) but I thought hers was better than mine because you could take the clothes off

yes yes

whereas mine's was all like stiff and fancy and that so (interruption) it wasn't you know no good mm (pause) but eh (pause) well like I say I mean things are not the same now I mean there's more money around but (pause) I divn't think there's that much more happiness you know (interruption)

(interruption) mm (pause) yeah (interruption) no

because I mean well I mean the kids they get computers and (pause) eh

(unclear)

well they've just got everything I mean they get tellies and things like that I mean (pause) our grandchildren you know I mean they've got computers they've got tellies in their rooms and (pause) all of this and some kids don't know how to play because (pause) they've got everything there for them I think whereas we (pause) well what did you used to play

ehm dear me we used to (pause) well ehm (pause) in them days we used to skippy (laughter) if you were the lasses and play football in the street that's all we did or went to the park

mm

Shieldfield Park we did we spent most of our time in there or roaming around down the Ouseburn (unclear)

aye down at what we called the tip it was a tip because they used to tip all (interruption) the ashes we used to play down there for hours (interruption)

(interruption) yes that's where you could tip all your ashes (interruption) I mean eh (pause) one time it was just a great big valley (pause) stretching from the Tyne (unclear) eh right up to Jesmond

oh

and then they actually filled started filling it over they built the culvert first

yes

it was like a great big tunnel you know

yes

now that was (interruption) another shelter during the war

(unclear) because there were a stream coming right from what they call the Ouseburn actually

mm

and eh it starts somewhere over well past Gosforth (pause) and comes down to the Tyne and eh then they just gradually just (pause) filled it in you know until the present day and now it's all level

mm

and eh (pause) the Ouseburn shelter as they called it they used as the underground shelter during the war

aye it used to stretch (interruption) from Saint Thomas's

(unclear) they put all the

from Saint Thomas's down

bunk beds in etcetera

aye

you know and

it was like a

eh and

but it was damp we only went in there once it was horrible

mm

it was damp and dark oh it was (interruption) awful

(interruption) mm (pause) I know

but (interruption) you could get you could get through from Saint Thomas's

there was no bomb would have penetrated it

you could get through from Shieldfield Park

no not that one you couldn't

what

not the Ouseburn

no no but I'm saying that one that was in Saint Thomas's

oh aye (interruption) yes

you could get down there

yes yes

because I mean eh the night ehm the goods station was bombed we

I can't remember what the actual tunnels were used for eh but they were they all finished eh it actually finished up down the quayside

mm

and as I say there was the three entrances I think (pause) Saint Thomas's eh Shieldfield and Crawhall Road

aye that's right

there was

that's right aye

that was the three entrances and eh it was a pretty deep eh shelter you know (interruption) you were quite safe once you got in (laughter) there you there's no problem

right

you might have got pneumonia (interruption) like but you wouldn't be bombed (laughter)

(unclear) (pause) I remember going down it once (unclear)

mm

well I mean you wouldn't get in many shelters (pause) because you (interruption) were away

I was in Dampney's twice eh (pause) and eh down there that one Shieldfield Shieldfield shelter twice

mm

when I came home that was all although there was no bombs that actually fell when I came home from Keswick (pause) there wasn't

you were lucky

no I didn't see them

although like I say

seen one eh (pause) battle in the sky it were between eh (pause) aeroplanes above Keswick above above Derwent Water

mm

that happened once (pause) ehm but the only thing that we knew about the war was that they had eh (pause) the army had launches on the (pause) Derwent Water (interruption) at that time they did you know and they had the guns on them that's the only thing we actually saw of the war (laughter) in ehm at Keswick

mm (pause) mm

well I mean where we lived in Shieldfield well in Bermonsey Street at the bottom beside Dampney's ehm (pause) we had all Italian prisoners of war

did you

yeah yeah

mm-hm

and eh (pause) they they worked in Dampney's paint works like you know but I mean they were dressed in the I can't remember what colour green and they had a big yellow (pause) circle on their back so that you knew you know but I mean we used to talk to them you know and I mean (pause) they seemed canny enough well I mean they would be I mean they're just (pause) ordinary people like we were but they (interruption) were in the war ehm (pause) but they worked there well until the war ended and I think there'd be a few (pause) bairns in eh (laughter) Shieldfield who belonged (laughter) to them

mm

is that right

well young girls you know because I mean they were handsome lads I mean you know what Italians look like

yes

ehm (pause) but eh I can remember ehm (pause) I divn't know whether they got well fed I mean they were well fed compared to

compared to our

what our men were with the Germans and the Japs like you know but eh you used to feel sorry for them ehm (pause) I think my mother once give me a half pound of margarine (laughter) to give to one of them there (laughter) because my mother was very soft she was ehm (pause) I mean if my father had been home (laughter) she wouldn't have given them because I mean he was (pause) doing his bit over there you know and he hasn't well like he never used to call the Italians but he hated the Japs he said the only good Jap was a dead Jap like you know what I mean he would know like but ehm (pause) no you seen some funny things (pause) ehm (pause) but I mean once the war was over it seemed to (pause) although I mean I'm saying once the war was over I mean the ration books were still on for a long long time (interruption) I mean there was still the bread was still rationed when I first (interruption) first started work

(interruption) (unclear)

(interruption) oh yes yes sugar and

and I was fifteen

(interruption) (unclear) was still rationed

because I started at ehm (pause) Gregg's not Gregg's the cake shop it was Gregg's gents' outfitters in Percy Street that's where I first started and you got twelve and six a week I hated it

the gents' outfitters

oh it was horrible they had millions and millions of (pause) you know it used to be all collar attached ehm (pause) the collars were separate you know and they used to have these boxes with collars in and oh that was my job to dust them stupid collar boxes and I worked with these women which I thought was old then I mean because I was (laughter) only fifteen but I mean really they must only have been about thirty five forty but to me they were old you know oh I hated it and I went from there to ehm (pause) where did I go the Iglodine Company which was a factory that made iglodine and had some laughs in there and then I went to ehm (pause) Norbridge shoe factory they were run by Jews under the (pause) eh (pause) where the Central Station is

mm

there's a arch under there

right

there was a shoe factory under there went there that was a good laugh I was there four year ehm (pause) and from there to metal box company

mm-hm

and that was when I met you weren't it

yes

and we got (pause) together and got married and that and I worked until our (NAME) until I was six month pregnant with our (NAME) (pause) and then eh left like but I went back to work when (NAME) was about two well it was a case of needs must you know just part time like and I've been working ever since

mm

so that's (pause) she's thirty six

mm

next month so that's thirty four year

mm

I've been working I don't mind going to work mind

right

I don't

uh-huh

I think it keeps your (pause) your fingers on the button sort of thing you know

yeah it keeps you in touch

oh it does you know (pause) so (NAME)

well the way things is worked out (laughter) I think we would get on top of each other if we both were in the house altogether (laughter)

(interruption) well

I get on with it in here (pause) just say 'get out of my kitchen'

(laughter)

(laughter)

who's in charge of the kitchen then

me

yeah but

through the week and that you know but

not when I'm (interruption) here

not Wednesday not on when (NAME)'s (unclear)

he's good mind he's a good help I must admit but eh (pause) the I I think all men are like that though they tend to try and take over and you get up and you think 'oh hell' (pause) and you want to do it yourself you know but you think 'oh wey it's something for them to do' you know but I think there's a lot of that role reversed these days

yes

oh there is these days

mm

mm

well you have to

mm

but eh

how old are your grandchildren

ehm (pause) the eldest one our (NAME) she's eh thirteen in September ehm the next one (NAME) he's eleven next month ehm (NAME)'ll be eight in August and our (NAME) was just seven last March

oh

three little girls and eh (pause) one boy

mm

of course we were delighted weren't we

oh yes

when we had (NAME)

when we had (NAME) it was just like getting a son (laughter)

uh-huh

mm

because I mean we'd never had a one and I mean (pause) I never had brothers or sisters well (unclear) brother or sisters ehm (pause) but when (NAME) was eh went into labour (pause) and eh (pause) we we had been (pause) well we had arranged to go to this do over at the Fed Breweries it was like a dinner and dance and I'm saying to him 'I'm not going' and he says 'well you can not do (laughter) nowt for her' so at at the place we kept ringing and ringing because she was in the Princess Mary and (pause) they were saying 'well ring back ring back' ehm (pause) and then finally she I rang and she says 'who's speaking' I says 'well I'm her mam' and she said 'oh Mrs (NAME)'s Mrs (NAME)'s been delivered of a son' and I said 'what' and she says 'it's a boy did you not want a boy' I says 'eeh yes' (laughter)

(laughter)

he was thrilled to bits delighted because he was a boy you know ehm (pause) he's the apple of wor eye he's he's a canny bairn like

so it was drinks all round that night (laughter)

mm

I could have been mortal and I wasn't

(laughter)

I was sober as a judge wasn't I

yes

just your mind was (pause) you know and what she was going through because you knew you know

mm

but eh but (NAME) eh the one who has (NAME) I mean her husband's a ehm (pause) BSM in the army (pause) so our (NAME) was born in Germany so we had to wait three weeks (pause) before we could go and see (NAME) well you could imagine it your first (laughter) grandchild

aye

and we were on a nettle weren't we until we got there

yes mm-hm

yeah

yes

is she still over there

no eh (pause) out of he's (pause) got another two years to do in the army he's signed up for twenty two years but he's spent eh the majority of that time in Germany

mm

and eh (pause) he's spent now actually nearly (pause) four years in England out of the (pause) twenty years has he

aye but he's

nearly sixteen years (unclear)

but he was in the Gulf

oh

and the Falklands

and the Falklands

was he

yes

and he's just come back from Northern Ireland again so he's done his stint I mean (pause) ehm (pause) she's eh well she's been good really

yes

you could imagine I mean every time something's going to happen (NAME)'s away like when he was in the Falklands (pause) eh well she was pregnant and she lost the baby she was here at the time mind and ehm well he was away and I mean they couldn't fly them home from the Falklands and that was very traumatic for her like

mm

but eh because she had like (NAME) and she was going to have this other baby (pause) she would only be about three month but I mean

mm

still I mean they really wanted it you know

yeah

and she lost it (pause) and then she had our (NAME) ehm (pause) and then when he was in the Gulf that was bad you know because I mean you know what the telly was like I mean (pause) the bairns I mean how old was (NAME) (pause) four

four at the time (unclear)

aye and when if the telly was on she'd say well (pause) ehm (pause) 'will my daddy be dead' you know well you (laughter) what do you say used to stop didn't let them watch the news (interruption) at the finish you know and eh it affected them (pause) ehm because ehm (NAME) eh well and (NAME) like patches came out of their hair they had like bald patches (pause) and the doctor said it was stress (interruption)

(interruption) (unclear) (pause) oh (interruption) right

you know they missed they missed him

yes

because he is a real good father isn't he

yes

you know he's involved with them you know aye took a while

well of course I mean eh the now the eh during those days I mean let's face it it was on the telly day in day out

mm

and of course they were you know they're still old enough to (pause) listen to the telly and see what was happening and listening to what was happening you know

mm

more than we did when we were young

yes (unclear)

when our fathers (unclear) was in the army you know I mean you you didn't hear very much about it you know I mean there wasn't the media coverage in those days of course I mean there was a lot kept quiet

mm

whereas the Falklands and eh (pause) the Gulf wars I mean the media was there at the time and covering as (interruption) much as they could

yes

too much really

yeah (unclear)

you know and the television coverage especially you know

yes

so I think it would affect the kids more

mm

during those times than it did us as I say because we didn't hear very much about the war

no

we didn't (pause) but the

just as well though

oh yes

(laughter)

I mean let's face it it went on a lot longer than eh (pause) those two

aye

mm

conflicts did (pause) so we didn't actually with eh the the oldest daughter being eh married to a soldier we didn't see the kiddies very much eh maybe twice a year (unclear) during the summer they used to come over for a fortnight and then eh (pause) and at Christmas over the New Year they used to come so

mm

we didn't see a great lot of them eh and then we started to go across (pause) actually from when she was one actually didn't we

aye

we used to go over for a week at first and then we thought well that's too trashing so we used to go over for a fortnight

mm

we always by bus

mm-hm

we did you know and then (interruption) (unclear)

you once drove

I I once drove yes but (NAME) was with we (interruption) at the time

we didn't like them roads (laughter)

(laughter)

no

no

too fast too fast

mm (unclear)

oh

I think we did very well actually for a first time (laughter)

mm

especially when we were coming back on our own you know

aye because when we went I mean we came off the ferry good job (NAME) was with we (laughter) and eh we got into Zeebrugge and just complete fog you couldn't see a thing could you

couldn't see a thing no

we drove through Holland and everything

Holland then (interruption) Belgium and it wasn't until we got to the German border

and we couldn't see a thing couldn't see a thing

gosh

and then it lifted

(unclear)

but I mean if she hadn't have been with we God knows where we would have ended up (laughter)

fatal later I have it eighty eight bet bent felt fettle

do you want us to say it the way it is on there or the way we would normally say it

well (interruption) that's the way I'm just speaking the way I would normally (interruption) say it

(unclear) accent

(unclear)

yeah

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 (pause) haunt I bought it boat total motor I wrote it pot (pause) footer put it in boot Bootle hooter bite title mier pint bite it out (pause) is that fount

mm-hm

mm out (laughter) pit bitter battle print I hit it hilt beak wreck back I seek it I wreck it I back it (pause) all of these (laughter) (pause) 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 (pause) half fast no half past sorry half cut oh aye (laughter) automatic Jupiter epileptic sheet read breeze key gate made may boat load (pause) go boot brewed booze brew out loud cow (pause) 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 (pause) pack it in or beat it he's putting it off he put it in a (pause) what's that he put it in a (pause) looks like b I d (pause) bid aye he put in a bid it looks like a l it's just thingied on was going to say 'what the hell is that' (laughter) eh (pause) jump up on the tractor (pause) he won't do it that in a hurry put a comma in it

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 put it in boot Bootle hooter bite title mitre pint bite it out fount outer pit bitter brittle print I hit it hilt beak wreck back I seek it I wreck it I back it (pause) 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 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 put in in a bid jump up on the tractor he won't do it that in a hurry put a comma in it