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Age Group:

51-60

Gender:

Female

Residence:

Tyneside - Newcastle

Education:

Left school at 16; subsequent Commercial College

Occupation:

Secretary

:

Age Group:

51-60

Gender:

Female

Residence:

Tyneside - Newcastle

Education:

Left school at 16; subsequent Commercial College

Occupation:

Banking (retired)

 decten1pvc07

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yes

:

(unclear) you know for five years of the war but you remember more about the war in Newcastle (interruption) really

:

in Newcastle yes because because I was born (pause) in Heaton actually and at that time I lived with my grandparents because my parents had been living down in Manchester they were from Newcastle originally

:

mm-hm

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and they moved down to Manchester because of work at the time (pause) but they came back up here in nineteen thirty nine

:

uh-huh probably

:

because war was looming

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it was (interruption) imminent yes yes

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there was all this talk of Hitler and families thought they had to be together and what have you you know so we came back well no I wasn't here then but my parents came back up here to Newcastle (interruption) and lived with my mother's parents across at Heaton and I was born in that house over there (interruption)

:

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

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and so for the first three years (pause) of the war that was where I was and the bombs of course were dropping

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wey Heaton was a big it was a big (interruption) industrial place actually

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quite a lot (pause) round then yes

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there was factories wasn't there

:

yes

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near sw they'd be trying to hit Swan Hunter's at Wallsend

:

yes

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the big shipyards

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yes and of course they did hit the goods yard

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the goods yard

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at what was then Manors wasn't it

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yes well you (interruption) remember that don't you

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it's now Warner Warner Brothers yes yes

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now my father was eh (pause) in the fire brigade and he you know all I can remember him saying about that was that he could remember (pause) just pounds and pounds of melted margarine pouring down the street

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it must have been

:

out of the goods yard

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in the in one of the trains or something

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well it would just be in the stock

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stocked in the goods yard (interruption) yes

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yes you know that national marge we used to get you know

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oh right right

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and it was just pouring down the street like a river of boiling margarine you know

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eeh how weird yes yes

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yes and of course you could your brother could remember going into the air raid shelter (interruption) (unclear)

:

that's right uh-huh our (NAME)'s three years older than me and he can remember quite clearly in the house at Heaton we used to have a big cellar

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mm-hm mm-hm mm-hm

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the doorway was in the hall

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mm-hm

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and you went down these I can remember it th (interruption) down the steep steps

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mm-hm mm-hm yes

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and it was a very big basement cellar and of course they went down there creepy when you think (interruption) wasn't it

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eeh your poor mother when you think

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I know and he can remember us going down there (pause) eh when the air raids were on you know

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uh-huh yes

:

and of course a bomb dropped at that time (pause) eh along on the Heaton cinema

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oh yes (interruption) yes yes

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which was just at the end of the street actually

:

yes

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very near us and the whole house shook and all the white dust came floating down you know

:

yes

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from the house

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yes

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he can remember that quite clearly and I was a baby at the time and on my mam's knee

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yes

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and he said he can remember looking at my mam he would be about three or well (interruption) four then

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poor soul

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and her knees were actually knocking together you know with fright

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yes

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really

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eeh I should think (interruption) they would

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ho horrible time for parents I mean with babies and things when you think

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I know well I think this is why we (pause) I thi I'm not sure how they got this I mean it was an old cottage up near Wark

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mm-hm

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you know I don't really know how they got it or anything like that but we

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but they did get it for you to sort of shelter (interruption) from the war

:

oh yes yes oh yes that's why and I was only six months old when we went there

:

yes

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you know and ehm (pause) with my sister who was a year and a half older (pause) and we went up with my grandmother up there and my parents stayed in Newcastle because you know they worked there

:

yes

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well my mother didn't work but my dad did you know

:

yes

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and ehm (pause) they just used to come up (pause) at weekends you know

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to see you yes

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this cottage I can remember seeing the searchlights over (interruption) Newcastle

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yes yes

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you know just looking out and if ever a plane went over we were hurried into the house in case (interruption) he was throwing out bombs because sometimes they just threw them out over the moors you know

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yes (pause) jettisoned them (interruption) yes yes yeah

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yes yes and they had a (pause) I mean they would come up by car at the beginning of the war because they had a car before the war started you know

:

yes

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but as soon as perhaps after about a year or odd I think it it was laid up

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couldn't get the petrol

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you couldn't get any petrol

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no no

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and it sat in the garage until it I can remember they got it out in nineteen forty six

:

uh-huh

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because it was just before my brother was born (pause) and

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you wouldn't remember it then much w you had you ever seen it

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no

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no

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used to see it in the garage it was in (interruption) Self's garage on the West Road you know where Self's is my dad was friendly with Mr Self you know

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

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and it was just laid up there and I can remember seeing it and they got it out and I can remember my mother was expecting (NAME)

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(laughter)

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and when they we went for a run in the country and the brakes failed (laughter)

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(laughter) God

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and so that was it they just sold it you know

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yes

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we were never I think I was only (interruption) (unclear)

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not think about getting it mended or anything

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well I don't suppose they could afford to really

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no no

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that was it you know once it was out and that was it it was things (interruption) were different

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you mam said if that car's brakes are going to fail it goes (laughter)

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I know I know so that was it like that was the end of the car

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yes

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nobody ever I think there was one person in our street had a car he was the ehm (pause) police pathologist Doctor (NAME)

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oh right yes yes

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and he had a big car

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yes

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black car and we used to draw all over it in the dust

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yes

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(unclear) all cars were black weren't they

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yes they were

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and there was hardly (interruption) anybody

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that's what they used to say didn't they

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yes

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you can have any colour you like

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oh they were all black

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as long as it's black

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there weren't any other colours then

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yes

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this is sort of just when we were little isn't it

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yes (pause) we didn't have a car I don't

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well (interruption) that was

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I don't think anybody we knew had a car

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well that was only my dad that had it before the war you know

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yes yes

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little Austin Seven

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so really you had quite an idyllic time out in the country there for the (pause) first

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well there was no electricity

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when did you come back then (unclear)

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eh (pause) when I was five

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you came back to go to school (interruption) then presumably

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to go to school probably four and a half or something

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yes yes

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but came back to go to school

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yes

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but and I can remember coming back and I'd never seen a bus or traffic I'd never been in Newcastle ever

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a real country hick (laughter)

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definitely (pause) absolute hick (pause) I'd never seen anything you know I remember being (pause) tu going up (pause) going up stairs in this house and turning the taps on with the running water and the (pause) you know and I just screamed when it all disappeared down the plughole (laughter)

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(laughter) where did you used to get it in the country from a pump or something

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must have done

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yes

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must have done

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I don't really (interruption) (unclear)

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oh there was a well there was a well we used to have to get buckets of water I remember

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oh yes

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I don't remember doing it but I can remember being told (interruption) about it

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you mustn't have had a sink then if you if you screamed when it disappeared right down the sink

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no no I don't think we did (pause) still

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I thought you would have screamed when it came out the tap (interruption) (pause) when it disappeared

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there was no toilet or anything you know we just used to go up on the fells behind the garage it was all on its own

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(laughter)

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when we first came to Newcastle we used to go out in the garden (unclear)

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(laughter)

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I think I'd better stop this (laughter)

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(laughter)

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hey (pause) let's get back to civilisation we went to school didn't we

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yes we came back to go to school

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eeh (interruption) yes yes

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that'll be when we all started together

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yes yes

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you see our (NAME) had already started school

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yes

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across at Heaton

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yes

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and he can remember that when the air raids were on I mean I suppose when you think it would be the parents

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yes

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who who would have all the worry the kids

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oh

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as kids do take everything in their stride

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they don't worry about anything do they

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and he used to be quite chuffed in a way he said when there was an air raid because the next day they were allowed to have a half a day off

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(laughter)

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and you just went into school at lunchtime

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yes yes

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you know you were allowed the morning off if (interruption) you had an air raid (pause) eh on your area that night (interruption)

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(interruption) oh right yes yes (interruption) yes yes

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which is a bit of a (laughter)

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(laughter) eeh well of course they'd be up half the night wouldn't they you see

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yes that's right and he used to reckon if they'd lost their sleep

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yes well it's only sense (interruption) that isn't it really yes

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yes (pause) but even when we started school can you remember the ehm (pause) the air raid drills

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oh yes

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yes and we used to have a little gas mask didn't we

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yes we did

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yes yes

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they were very big classes there were about fifty or sixty (interruption) children in the classes

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yes a lot a lot in the classes

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because a lot of the schools had been bombed and a lot of children like me were coming back into the town after the war

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yes

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and so course a lot of people sent you know were away at relatives or cottages

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yes

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or anywhere out the town you know

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yes mm

:

and they all just flocked back you know when the war finished although it hadn't finished then it was still on

:

no it was

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it was still on because it was forty four when we came back but I mean I don't think there were any more bombing raids then

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no

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but there were (unclear) with hindsight you know there weren't but you wouldn't know then

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you would n't know then no

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no

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you wouldn't know then no

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so we did have the air raid drill didn't we

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we did I can remember (interruption) going down eh (pause) it was in the bottom of the yard wasn't it

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yes (pause) yes and there were shelters weren't there

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yes

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air raid shelters

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we had to go away in there

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I don't actually remember going in them but I suppose we must have done

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do you mean for the drill

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yes

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I can remember going (interruption) in them

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oh now I can't

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yes

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I can remember being outside them but I can't remember (interruption) going in them

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yes I can remember going in them

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yes and of course they were all over the place the air raid shelters they were like big concrete things and there was one just outside the gates of the hospital

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the General Hospital (interruption) on West Road

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the General Hospital that's right

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yes

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and it was like a it wasn't a zebra crossing a belisha beacon we used to call it didn't we

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yes (interruption) yes

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yes to cross the road and you had to sort of look round this great air raid shelter entrance to get out into the road and of course once I didn't a there was a car coming and I was knocked down (pause) and I can remember it was a

:

that was a good bit of planning wasn't it to stick it there

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eeh I know

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so that people had to step out (interruption) into the road to look round

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I know yes (pause) and my sister pulled me back and I fell over and the car went on my foot I wasn't badly hurt or anything but (pause) the poor man wanted to give me a lift he asked where I lived you know

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yes

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(unclear) said it wasn't all that far but

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no you weren't you

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quarter of

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yes

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quarter of a mile that was it (pause) and ehm (pause) eeh I remember I wouldn't get in the car and I always remember saying 'oh my grandmother says I haven't got to get into strange men's cars' I was only about five you know

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(laughter) eeh well that was good

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and my sister carried me (interruption) well piggybacked me home she was only seven you know

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yes yes (pause) yes yes

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there was there was a few kids like they'd all be like hauling me home we got down to the street they were all waiting you know the man had gone round to the house God my poor mother what a shock she would have got

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yes terrible yes eeh

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but (unclear) of course

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so that was one shelter yes yes

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there was all those air raid and then they took them all away didn't they

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yes

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there was those ones at the Wingrove depot that we used to play in mind

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yes what (pause) was that a shelter or what because it was more like

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I think it was an air raid I think was it an air was it a big air raid shelter that

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because it was more like a big tunnel wasn't it

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it was but I think it was for that I mean it must have been an air what else would it be

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because there was an entrance

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yes it was an air raid shelter

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where the tram depot used to be

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yes

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it was a tram depot then and later (interruption) a bus depot wasn't it and it's now a garage isn't it it was Murray and Charlton's (interruption)

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(interruption) yes yes yes (pause) yes yes it's sort of (interruption) and then it was Dutton Foreshaw but I c don't (interruption) whose now

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I don't know who it is now on the West Road but at that time it was the tram depots

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yes

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and there was a big piece of waste ground and the entrance to that thing

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yes

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was on that waste ground and we used to go down (interruption) it to play

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it was an air raid shelter yes

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and we went right the way down

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eeh it was about quarter of a mile

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well it was a whole bl like the length of a whole block of houses (interruption) we used to (unclear)

:

and we used to play down there

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horrible when you think

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I know it was all

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we mustn't have had what ever it is (pause) claustrophobia or anything must we (laughter)

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no

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playing away down there

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I know

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awful I mean I would have been aghast if I thought (NAME) was playing any where like that now you know (pause) awful

:

eeh I know well we used to across from where our back lane was there was some garages well they're still there I think (pause) and you could go up (pause) if you were they were like people's garages you know for the houses at the other side

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yes

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but nobody use to I mean there was no cars so there wasn't any cars in actually they'd been stables

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oh right

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you know behind like those where the police oh (pause) it's where the police station (interruption) is now you know

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yes yes it was the old police station then (interruption) wasn't it

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yes it was no it was the fire there was a little police station at the top just a (interruption) little thing

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and the fire station

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but it was the fire station (interruption) that was the main thing but like halfway in that lane there were all these what had been stables and you could go up and at the top of those and you could go through the whole lot along the top (interruption)

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(interruption) yes (interruption) yes

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just go through these like loft things and I can remember we used to do that as well you know

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yes yes

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and it was really dangerous because the floorboards were all

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yes

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sprung and everything (laughter) that must have been when we were about eight to ten (interruption) you know

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yes yes later on yes

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yes we were doing that playing out like that you know

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yes yes

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we used to play out in the street all the time really didn't we

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we did yes (interruption) oh that was where we played

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(unclear) and I mean I played more probably before (pause) you know like from five say I'd play down our end with the ones down there

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yes

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and you would play up with your lot

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and some our end yes

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because I used to play with the ones there's a lot of people lived in the fire station you know

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yes

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course they lived there

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uh-huh

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the firemen

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on the premises

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oh yes they all lived there

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oh right (interruption) yes

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so they all had they all had like a flat

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uh-huh

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in the fire station

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oh

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you know

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mm

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and there was loads of kids there was the (NAME) (NAME) and (NAME) (NAME)

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yes

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I think you'll remember them

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yes I remember the name

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yes we used to play with them

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yes

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and there was another little girl didn't have any hair I don't know why she always used to wear a little woollen bonnet

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oh

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you know

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wonder why that was

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eeh I don't know

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unless she'd had some kind of

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was thinking of her the other day

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treatment or something

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yes she might have done of course

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uh-huh

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and there was a lot of kids played there there you know

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yes

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it used to be all we just used to play in the fire station we used to slide down the pole and everything you know

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(laughter)

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nobody stopped us they didn't seem to mind

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I don't think they would do that now (interruption) would they

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no and (NAME) did of course of (NAME)'s friends (NAME) I mean they did yes

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they wouldn't let you now

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it was a bit dangerous really

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you wouldn't expect them to would you

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no no

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you'd be aghast if you saw (pause) kids playing

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I mean they all lived there you see

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yes

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so I mean it was just quite

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that was their playground

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yes

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yes

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and we just used to play hide and seek in it and everything you know it was good

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yes

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you know

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we played more up our end we used to go down to the park

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yes well we did as (interruption) well mind

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we played a lot in Nunsmoor Park

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well we used to go to both Nunsmoor and Elswick you know

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yes

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I don't know what yes we used to go to

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yes you were slightly nearer Elswick (interruption) weren't you

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yes we were yes

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yes oh nuns Nunsmoor was just (pause) eh

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yes

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down eh at the bottom of our street

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that's right we used to go there I used to take (NAME) there my brother was you know seven years younger you know

:

mm-hm

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used to take him in the pushchair

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mm

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down to Nunsmoor because it was a nicer walk

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yes

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down Brighton we used to go down Brighton Grove

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mm

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and then you could walk right through

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that's right

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you know and I remember taking him to the swings down there

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yes

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and everything you know

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yes it was a nice park

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yes yes

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I can remember people taking their carpets down to eh (pause) the park you know

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really

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and hanging them on a line and beating them

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eeh in the park

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with carpet beaters

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eeh well

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I don't know why they didn't do it in the back yard or anything or whatever

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maybes they didn't think there was enough room you know

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I know

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those little back yards were very small

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yes

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and if you're in one of those little flats you know there probably wasn't a lot of room

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yes (pause) just used to whack them with those big cane (interruption) (pause) beaters

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they would get maybes they thought they got more air to eeh I don't remember that now

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I can remember that quite clearly

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yes

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mm-hm not a we didn't take it ours down there

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no no no

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but we had a very large back yard

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mm-hm

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but eh I can remember other people doing that

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yes (unclear)

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funny the things you can remember

:

I know

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mm we used to play quite a lot on that waste ground that we're talking about

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yes

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where next to the tram shed

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yes

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and I remember when the when th I can't really remember the trams (pause) our (NAME) can he can remember them

:

mm-hm mm-hm

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up and down the eh

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mm-hm

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West Road but ehm (pause) I remember when they took the tram lines up

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mm-hm

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and they must have laid all the steel girders

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mm-hm (interruption) I remember those

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I suppose they're steel things

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they were like red weren't they like a dark red colour weren't they

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I can't remember the colour

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I do

:

but I know I know they were all laid out on that (interruption) waste ground

:

yes yes

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we used to play on them and I can remember trip (pause) I fell off one day and cut you know gashed the top of my foot nearly knocked my you know severed my foot

:

you should have had a course I don't know whether they had tetanus injections then probably not you know but I mean you would think nowadays you would have to have a tetanus wouldn't you

:

just had to have it just got it bandaged up you know

:

eeh mind if you were ill I mean I had whooping cough when I was (pause) about got everything you see after being out there in the country and never meeting anybody

:

mm

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soon as we came into Newcastle

:

oh yes you'd be eh

:

you caught everything under the sun

:

yes (interruption) you wouldn't be used to the dirt

:

I mean in the first year of school I was hardly there

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yes

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and I know I remember when I got whooping cough well I don't remember this but I remember being told I was off school nine months

:

gosh

:

you know I was just you know

:

uh-huh (pause) oh is that where you were I wondered where you'd gone (laughter)

:

(laughter) you wouldn't remember though would you

:

no no I can't really

:

at that age you don't know people disappear

:

no

:

and I was always used to I got like a cold every year I used to get these colds on my chest and I was always off five to six weeks

:

yes

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because there was no antibiotics you could just you were ill I don't remember being ill mind I can't remember feeling ill

:

no no

:

I think kids just don't remember

:

no

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I think once they're better they've just forgotten

:

mm-hm

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I certainly don't remember but I know I was you know

:

mm

:

I missed a lot of school when I was in the

:

the first few years (interruption) sort of five six year old type of thing

:

aye (unclear) (pause) yes about up to about eight I think I missed loads of school (interruption) you know

:

yes yes

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and after that I was I didn't you know but

:

once you get immune (interruption) to all the town bugs

:

(unclear) as well I know

:

yes

:

so it didn't do you that much good really

:

mm I know well I I can't remember any illness but ehm (pause) I did have an operation (pause) at the Fleming Memorial Hospital

:

oh yes

:

and this was when I was a toddler

:

that's the one that just closed down

:

yes

:

it's a shame you know there was a big outcry about that

:

and it was for tonsils and adenoids (interruption) you know

:

yes (NAME) had that

:

and eh they took me away up there

:

yes

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I'm too I can't really remember it you know

:

no no but you mother yes

:

but when you think th they used to take you up there and you were left and I think

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eeh I know

:

they were just told that they could come in for half an hour

:

I know

:

and see you

:

I know

:

say six o'clock until half six

:

I know

:

and they reckon you were just left with all these big people with big huge white (pause) uniforms and what have you and when I think of the difference now of eh

:

I know parents can (interruption) stay

:

you know like when (NAME) had that

:

eeh (interruption) yes

:

he's only had one night in hospital when he fell and he had that

:

yes

:

well he had a bang on the head and they we

:

yes

:

they took him in for

:

yes

:

eh in case he got concussion but I was allowed (interruption) to stay in there the whole night

:

you were allowed to stay all night weren't you

:

and I could

:

yes

:

you know sat in the chair at his bedside

:

yes

:

and I was just there with him the whole time whereas

:

well well my sister she was five or six you know and she had her tonsils out

:

yes (interruption) she couldn't

:

course she lost she missed a lot of school as well

:

yes

:

and she had ehm (pause) and she's always said she could remember (pause) the feeling of her mother (interruption) going

:

being abandoned

:

and being abandoned you know

:

yes

:

she just felt she wouldn't eat anything she wouldn't (interruption) course she was a contrary person anyway

:

I think there was a lot of that

:

but she wouldn't you know she just wouldn't do a thing you know

:

yes

:

and she said she can always remember one of the nurses bringing her some ice cream you know for her sore (interruption) her throat was so sore you know (interruption)

:

(interruption) yes that's what they used to bring you (interruption) afterwards

:

and she wouldn't eat it you know

:

yes

:

because she because she was so annoyed that my mother wasn't there

:

yes well I suppose they would think that they'd (interruption) just been abandoned really

:

eeh I know she thought she'd been abandoned she thought that it was terrible

:

I mean I probably screamed blue murder I would think

:

you would yes

:

I was only about two you know

:

eeh I know

:

I mean you can't explain it

:

course you w you won't be able to remember but she with being about five or six she could

:

yes

:

you know she says she could always remember it you know

:

yes I should think the hospital was full of screaming (pause) kids (laughter)

:

I know well i it's a lo it was a long time I can remember you know when we were in America

:

yes

:

and I remember reading a magazine article and that was in the sixties and it was about the British experiment and it was about how in England they decided that you know parents could stay with their children in hospital

:

oh uh-huh

:

and I remember reading that and thinking oh that's you know fancy it's

:

yes

:

apparently actually started in this country

:

so that was in the sixties

:

and it was just in the sixties you know

:

yes

:

well most things like that started in the (interruption) sixties didn't they you know

:

yes (pause) yes (pause) uh-huh

:

and that was it you know and that was just a little experiment then so I think it would probably be the seventies before it really took off

:

yes

:

you know

:

yes yes and now you c you know

:

it's good (interruption) you know

:

it's the accepted thing isn't it

:

yes yes

:

much more reassuring isn't it

:

oh I think it's awful you know there's a lot of things like that

:

I know you just had to get on with it didn't you

:

I know I know listen to him (laughter) eeh and of course we started I mean the main (pause) social thing was the pictures wasn't it

:

oh yes

:

eeh we went mad (interruption) on the films

:

yes everybody went to the pictures didn't they

:

oh yes (laughter) because we were in well where we lived it was ehm (pause) a nice area wasn't it you know

:

yes

:

because we had to

:

yes

:

it still is really because I was just thinking you often read nowadays how there's no small shops left and all that you know but I mean the West Road is still as good a shopping centre as it was when we were young isn't it

:

yes

:

the top end

:

yes yes

:

the bottom end where we were is not as good

:

yes where I was yes I think it's a bit of a rougher area now though isn't it

:

well it is yes

:

yes

:

but it's it's rougher but it's still it hasn't

:

oh the amenities (interruption) yes

:

what I mean is it hasn't disappeared altogether

:

yes yes

:

you know I mean a lot of places now I mean there's just nothing really

:

mm

:

you know it's still quite good

:

well when we moved (pause) shortly after we moved into Wingrove Avenue eh there was an ar eh they must have been (pause) eh doing a series of articles in The Chronicle

:

mm-hm

:

about streets of Newcastle and our street was in it and it was this quiet little street in a quiet suburb well it it's not like that now you know

:

no it isn't well it's the inner city things (interruption) (unclear) you know

:

yes it is really

:

I mean it is nearer the city (interruption) so it's more

:

that's changed quite a bit

:

it has

:

yes

:

oh yes it has

:

but where we were I mean

:

there was (unclear) though

:

w we weren't far from you and we were between the two cinemas weren't we

:

yes we were

:

eh (pause) the Plaza

:

yes

:

up at this end of the West Road

:

yes

:

and the Brighton

:

yes so I mean you could go to either really we were just round the corner from the Brighton

:

yes yes you were nearer there weren't you

:

because actually th it was quite good because on a hot night (pause) they used to have the back door of the Brighton open you know the big

:

the big double doors yes

:

double doors when it was very very hot you know they used to have those open and we used to sneak in sometimes and see half a film you know I think I've seen loads of half films

:

criminal past (laughter)

:

I know used to like to nip in you know

:

yes

:

they probably knew you know when you think about it

:

yes

:

we'd just be little kids like you know

:

yes

:

Carpet Express (NAME) (pause) they'll be coming here

:

delivery

:

(unclear)

:

yes yes

:

because I know originally my grandmother used to take us

:

yes

:

(NAME) and I

:

yes

:

she used to love the pictures my grandmother she couldn't read very well I mean she could read a little bit if she could read out loud but you know she'd never been to school or anything you know so she could just (pause) read a little bit

:

yes

:

and so naturally she thought the pictures were marvellous

:

yes

:

she used to like sh she could read the paper mother had taught her apparently you know

:

uh-huh

:

but ehm (pause) but she couldn't read to herself she had to read out loud you know

:

oh right yes

:

you know she couldn't like a child you know

:

yes

:

when they first start to learn to read but I mean she could get the sense you know

:

uh-huh

:

and she used to read magazines later

:

uh-huh

:

as she got older she read more really (pause) but (interruption) (unclear)

:

is this your mam's mam or your

:

yes

:

your mam's mam

:

yes the Irish one

:

yes I'm with you

:

but she (pause) you know she loved the pictures so she used to take us every week every Saturday when we were just little

:

yes

:

you know and then you started going

:

we started to go when we were very little (interruption) didn't we

:

oh yes you did I mean

:

I think the first picture our (NAME) saw he was just about three or was it (pause) what was it again Bambi or something you know when they first came out

:

yes I don't think it would be Bambi Bambi was later

:

was it

:

I think so

:

or was it Snow White or something

:

it might have been Snow White

:

yes

:

yes I feel as though Bambi was one of the later Disney ones I might be wrong mind

:

I think it was quite early

:

was it

:

yes

:

oh right maybes it wasn't I don't really know

:

(laughter)

:

I can't remember the first picture I saw

:

I can't

:

I can just remember going you know

:

yes

:

just took you and you just went

:

it was just part of life we went twice a week didn't we

:

oh easily

:

because it used to be Monday Tuesday Wednesday then changed

:

changed Thursday Friday

:

and the second one was Thursday

:

and you didn't look (interruption) to see what was on anyway did you you just went

:

Friday (pause) no we just went regardless (interruption) didn't we

:

I know know (pause) (unclear) my friend (NAME) was saying she when I was talking about the pictures you know she said she can always remember going to see Gone With The Wind

:

oh right

:

you know and she said she was about twelve and she had all these kids with her she says all the young ones out the street you know (pause) and she said she was in a terrible state she said she was bawling her eyes out and everything you know

:

(laughter)

:

this drama in this picture

:

(laughter)

:

and she says I came out in a terrible state and these kids were all just oh that was a good film you know (laughter)

:

(laughter)

:

oh dear but you did used to get really into it didn't you really

:

oh yes oh you (interruption) did

:

much more so than you

:

you came out you walked along the street and lived it didn't you (laughter)

:

I'm sure the children nowadays don't I don't think (interruption) they get I don't think they can appreciate

:

oh it's not quite the same

:

I don't even mean the pictures I mean anything

:

yes

:

I don't think they really course it's mostly (interruption) the television

:

well they so used to th seeing this you see aren't they

:

and if television y it's not the same even now I mean because you've got all your house round you haven't you

:

yes

:

you're not away it's like another world it's like a dream

:

yes

:

wasn't it the pictures

:

it was

:

when you went you know you were in another world weren't you

:

it was and I mean we used to see ones with murders and things in didn't we

:

oh yes it didn't bother us

:

I mean they wouldn't be very dramatic

:

no

:

but (interruption) to us then they were

:

mind I can remember having awful nightmares about some I remember one being really really frightened

:

yes

:

it was a one called Doctor Renault's Secret I've no idea who was in it

:

(laughter)

:

but it was about this man and he had trained this ape you know and it was like a man I mean it must be as corny as anything

:

(laughter)

:

if you ever saw it but I remember going home and being terrified

:

(laughter)

:

I couldn't sleep for nights

:

(laughter) did you think there was apes going to jump out at you

:

well I was just so frightened

:

yes

:

you know I mean I can remember because he was a (pause) you didn't know he was an ape he was just like a man and then at the end you realized he was a he was going round murdering people you see

:

yes yes

:

as if apes would anyway

:

(laughter)

:

but I mean it was a (unclear) but if I could remember the name of the film even you know

:

yes it's

:

I've no idea who was in it or anything

:

stuck in your mind

:

it would just be one of those B Movies I should imagine

:

probably was probably was you know

:

I know but oh we just loved the films didn't we really

:

yes

:

we used to get all these magazines and

:

oh yes

:

and for Christmas you got

:

Picture Goer we used to get The Picture Goer and The Picture Show

:

mm-hm

:

every week they were a magazine

:

yes we did and we used to get

:

you got the annuals at (interruption) Christmas

:

at Christmas you got all the annuals

:

mm

:

didn't you you know and

:

yes

:

you know we really did and just

:

do you remember (pause) do you remember eh Great Expectations when that came to the Brighton

:

oh I remember seeing it

:

and at the beginning when he's in the churchyard and eh the convict jumps out on him eeh well I the whole cinema (interruption) just screamed

:

I don't remember no

:

I can remember that

:

aye yes

:

we all just screamed

:

yes yes

:

Magwitch in the in the churchyard

:

yes yes

:

and he just leaped you know

:

(unclear) coloured pictures came out

:

oh yes

:

we thought that was marvellous didn't we

:

yes yes

:

yes and then Cinemascope of course

:

mm-hm

:

that was later but you know we did

:

yes

:

you know there was always something different coming up (interruption) wasn't there

:

yes (pause) we used to know all about the stars

:

yes

:

who'd married who and all

:

oh you knew more about it than I did I used to like the story more you know

:

yes

:

I always liked the pictures better

:

well we probably got more of the magazines (interruption) you know

:

yes maybes you did like yes I don't know (interruption) we did get some like you know

:

took it all in (pause) yes

:

I don't think I was ever knew I remember when I first when I when I went to the college of commerce and we sort of got on again together

:

yes

:

you used to tell me all these tales about them and I didn't know you know I can remember that (pause) but I mean I was interested like you know but

:

all the gossip yes yes

:

but we did used to get (NAME) used to get one of the picture things I remember magazines

:

yes

:

every week we used to get one every week like maybes I used to read it and not take it in

:

mm-hm

:

but we you know the

:

I know (NAME) used to get the Film Fun annual

:

oh yes

:

every year with all the

:

course they were all their comics well there was the Film Fun you see wasn't there

:

yes

:

we used to love the comics

:

oh yes they were good

:

yes

:

the ehm

:

well we used to

:

what was that one again

:

there was the Dandy and the Beano and the Radio Fun

:

what was that other one with ehm (pause) the knock

:

the Knockout

:

the Knockout

:

the Knockout yes

:

yes yes I remember that (interruption) (unclear)

:

then you used to get the Eagle you know

:

yes

:

eventually you know

:

oh and we started to get when we were at Rutherford

:

the School (interruption) Friend and the Girls Crystal

:

we got the School Friend came out didn't it

:

yes oh we loved those

:

yes

:

oh I was (pause) we used to get ehm (pause) I used to read the comics I used to go to that music to music you know that Mr (NAME) down in (interruption) (unclear)

:

oh yes he lived in our street yes

:

yes not for very long mind I think I only went for about six months or something

:

yes

:

he used to get all the comics and (pause) and I used to go and

:

he got the comics did he

:

uh-huh he used to have all these comics it was great

:

uh-huh

:

because I used to go and I used to wait for (NAME) because I used to get there first

:

mm-hm

:

and she used to come down

:

mm

:

while I was waiting for her I used to read all these comics it was great

:

mm

:

I remember reading them all there I used to love to get the lesson out of the way first so's I could read the comics

:

yes

:

you know but that didn't last very long I don't think

:

no

:

I don't think I was very musical

:

well I remember when we played out in a gang and when we passed his window (interruption) we used to laugh in at you

:

eeh (pause) you did I remember

:

you and (NAME) having the lessons

:

I know he used to

:

he used to have a ruler out and be

:

oh he was awful when I think (interruption) he used to rap you

:

rapping you across the knuckles didn't he

:

when you think nowadays he'd be up for assault (interruption) or something

:

and we used to be standing giggling at him and (laughter) look at them (interruption) you know

:

oh he was horrible actually when I think if you made a mistake (interruption) on a note he used to rattle you

:

yes (pause) he was quite strict wasn't he

:

oh he was horrible

:

(laughter)

:

he was a horrible person and he used to just rattle you right across the knuckles really hard with this ruler

:

(laughter)

:

well nowadays man they'd have them up for assault wouldn't they

:

not the best way to make a good pianist is it

:

well no

:

crack

:

I just used to ooh it used to really hurt you know

:

yes so that didn't last too long

:

I know I mean can you imagine if s done that with (NAME) when he was going to his music lessons

:

yes

:

I don't think you'd have been very amused

:

no (pause) I would not (laughter)

:

and I wasn't very old I was only at Wingrove you know

:

yes

:

so

:

yes

:

and that was the end of the music lessons

:

yes

:

I didn't take to them I'm afraid

:

no

:

(NAME) went a bit longer than me I think she was slightly better than me you know (laughter)

:

do you want a drink

:

yes (laughter) shall I rattle on while you're doing it

:

(laughter)

:

oh what'll I talk about

:

(laughter) of water

:

(laughter) mm-hm

:

(unclear) Lilliput was it or something

:

oh (pause) oh it's ringing a bell I don't think they were called that regularly but I I do know which one you mean

:

yes (pause) and we used to get newspapers we used to get the (pause) The People actually I remember

:

yes

:

and The News Of The World we used to get the (interruption) news

:

did you yes

:

eeh we always got The News Of The

:

we got The People

:

my grandmother liked The News Of The World you know

:

yes

:

this one that couldn't read very well but she liked The News Of The World

:

yes

:

and eh (pause) I remember getting those and then l lately later my mam got The Woman

:

yes

:

I remember when The Woman I mean I think we're going into the fifties now aren't we

:

yes yes

:

you know sort of things are getting a bit more

:

mm

:

I remember I used to love to read that as well

:

yes

:

we used to like course I was always at the library

:

yes

:

you know I used to go to Elswick Library and there was a little le lending library down the West Road can you remember Loffrin's?

:

yes I can down ehm (pause) past the Co op

:

that's right

:

on the left I do

:

yes now it was a bookshop really (interruption) but it used to lend books out and they always had brown paper covers on with Loffrin's Library and it was only something like (interruption)

:

(interruption) yes (interruption) twopence or something

:

threepence it was

:

yes (interruption) can remember

:

for a week you know and eh (pause) my mam used to get all her murder books there you know

:

yes

:

and I used to read all (pause) (NAME) and I all Enid Blighton's and all the Just William all those sort you know

:

mm

:

we used to love those

:

yes

:

I just remembered about those this morning when I was listening

:

yes I'd forgotten about that

:

Just William on the

:

on the radio yes

:

I know we used to be always at the library you know

:

yes

:

used to read loads of books all (pause) I used to love s all Enid all the school stories I used to love those I used to love all

:

picnics in the dorm and all that kind of thing

:

oh I know I used to love s them I think I read every one

:

we used to go to ehm (pause) Fenham (interruption) Fenham Library as well

:

you would go to Fenham now I didn't

:

m in fact we I c

:

oh you would only be in one

:

yes

:

so you wouldn't go any more

:

I was going to say I can't remember going to Elswick (interruption) Library

:

oh you wouldn't it was too far for you

:

yes

:

I mean don't forget we were (pause) (interruption) you were much nearer

:

you were that much nearer (pause) Elswick

:

you see it was the West Road I mean obviously they wouldn't like I mean I know there wasn't as much traffic but I mean I was knocked down having said that

:

yes

:

but you know you know when you were reasonably little they wouldn't let you cross the West Road

:

no no

:

and it would be the same for me so Elswick (interruption) was the nearest

:

so you'd go to Elswick and we'd go down to Fenham

:

it was no distance to Elswick for us really

:

mm yes

:

we used to go there every week really

:

mm-hm

:

get all the books out

:

and we used to go to the ehm (pause) the Empire a lot in fact my grandma used to first start to take us to the g the Grand Theatre was on the go in those days

:

mm-hm

:

at Heaton across the end of Byker bridge

:

oh yes

:

it was all variety and things

:

mm-hm mm-hm

:

and then later on we used to go to the Empire and the Palace (pause) quite regularly really and our (NAME)'s got a

:

mm-hm

:

an autograph book with all the Laurel and Hardy and all these

:

eeh good

:

you know really well known people used to come and do

:

yes yes

:

v variety acts

:

yes I remember we went there sometimes but not all that much you know I did go you know

:

mm

:

but just an odd time

:

we used to like to watch the shows

:

eeh yes it would be good I don't know (interruption) (unclear)

:

of course in those days people had an act you see

:

yes

:

and they used to take it round for years

:

yes they did

:

where as now they're once on television and that's (pause) they've got to think of new stuff all the time (interruption) haven't they

:

yes yes it would be

:

well some of those old comedians

:

yes

:

they went on for years

:

yes

:

with the same material you know

:

yes I don't know why we didn't go very much we just didn't somehow you know

:

mm

:

whether my parents weren't that keen although I would have thought my mother would have quite liked it

:

mm-hm I wonder

:

you know she certainly she certainly liked that kind of thing when it came on television

:

yes yes

:

so perhaps just didn't bother we used remember going a lot to ehm (pause) oh you know (NAME) my friend you know she knew a lot of people that were in sort of amateur dramatics (interruption) and thing s like that

:

her mother was wasn't she

:

yes her mother

:

her fa was it her mother

:

no it was her mother

:

I can remember going seen a show with her mother in it

:

her mother and her mother's sister

:

yes

:

her mother's sister used to live at Whitley Bay and she was she had these four girls you know and the husband had walked out on her you know

:

mm

:

years ago never knew him and eeh they were all you know they were all great really they were all very arty crafty up there I used to go down there a lot

:

yes

:

with (NAME) that was when I was at Rutherford you know

:

yes yes

:

you know when I would be about what thirteen fourteen fifteen year old you know

:

mm

:

we used to go down a lot to Whitley Bay

:

mm-hm

:

you know we used to go walking with them right way along the cliffs and everything you know it was good really just lark around in the Spanish City (laughter)

:

eeh yes (laughter) big treat

:

that was a big f big fairground at Whitley Bay wasn't it

:

our (NAME) remembers going down to the coast it must have been during the war when all the eh barbed wire was along there

:

eeh does he

:

along the beach and what have you

:

yes

:

you know and the

:

yes he'll be like three years older (interruption) you see

:

yes just that bit different

:

I don't remember anything like that

:

he remembers quite a few things about the war like that I can't remember

:

no you won't

:

barbed wire on the beach and things

:

no no

:

it was just (interruption) ordinary seaside

:

I used to like I remember going to the I remember going to the coast when you went to the coast on a summer Sunday and you had to queue for the train

:

yes

:

outside the Central Station

:

mm

:

the queue used to be right outside and you didn't get on the first train

:

yes oh I can remember that

:

it was absolutely packed solid wasn't it

:

yes

:

but you used to go you know

:

oh yes

:

and oh we loved it didn't we

:

it was a big treat wasn't it

:

oh yes I mean both when we were little being taken and later you know

:

yes

:

when you went on your own I mean we went a lot

:

mm-hm

:

because they had a beach hut thing one of those you know those things along the (pause) prom they're still there those little hut things do you know what I mean

:

where are you at now Tynemouth (interruption) (unclear)

:

Tynemouth yes no they were at Whitley Bay theirs

:

Whitley Bay

:

aye and you could they just kept all their stuff in there you know

:

yes uh-huh

:

and you could just bring it all down course with living down there you know we just used to bring it all down on to the beach

:

yes

:

but (pause) eeh yes there was queues then when you got there you can't you couldn't if it was a hot day (pause) because I've got some photographs of Tynemouth beach and honestly you can't put a pin between the people you know it's just absolutely jam packed solid

:

mm

:

people just sitting there in the sun

:

mm-hm

:

I can remember going with my parents and they used to run me down and play in the sea and then you came out the sea and looked and you couldn't see them could you

:

(laughter) you didn't know where they were yes

:

you know if you'd just gone along a little bit further (interruption) you know

:

yes panic

:

you seemed a bit lost like you know

:

just see this sea of faces

:

eeh we once went for a fortnight's holiday down to Whitley Bay

:

(laughter)

:

we stayed in one of the boarding houses

:

(laughter) did you

:

yes

:

uh-huh

:

I remember it

:

a fortnight as well

:

a fortnight

:

(laughter)

:

my mam and my dad didn't go because he must have been at work

:

yes

:

with having his own business he never got a holiday

:

yes

:

you know I don't remember him having a holiday

:

yes

:

and he just used to he was a chiropodist and he just used to you know come down maybes at night and things like that you know

:

yes (laughter)

:

go back home again on the train but you know we were there two weeks

:

two weeks yes I can remember going to the country

:

uh-huh

:

when we were just quite small and you know I I thought we were miles away it was just up beside Allenheads

:

that was quite a long way really for those days

:

yes

:

you know people would think that was quite a long way

:

mm

:

you know because it's (pause) I remember going to like boarding houses you know seaside boarding houses

:

yes

:

for holidays

:

yes

:

and you did I mean the farthest this'll be when I was fourteen I remember we went to Scarborough

:

we did

:

near near to it was a place called Cayton Bay

:

yes

:

and it was like a little I mean they called it a holiday camp but it wasn't really but it there was a chalets it was nice and there was a big community place where you could they had like dances and games for the children and everything I thought it was fabulous

:

(laughter) yes (laughter)

:

you know I really did you know

:

yes yes

:

I can remember thinking it was marvellous then we went into Scarborough and (pause) to the swimming pool there and little railway you've been to Scarborough (interruption) as well didn't you

:

yes oh yes we went around about that time I would say

:

I think it would be about the same time

:

definitely at Rutherford

:

yes

:

you know that age about fourteen fifteen

:

it must have been like further afield mustn't it

:

yes

:

and going on the train I thought we were going miles

:

yes well that was about yes we went there and we went to Edinburgh one year again a boarding house

:

yes

:

and we went to Harrogate

:

yes

:

you know again (interruption) like a boarding house you know

:

yes (pause) yes

:

but eh that was really far afield

:

eeh yes it would be well we went to Scarborough was the f (pause) but when I was very little we used I remember going to Redcar (laughter)

:

yes

:

I mean it sounds ridiculous but we went there and somewhere else but I don't know where it was I remember going to some seaside place

:

yes

:

I'm going back a long way because it was before (NAME) was born

:

mm

:

but of course they bought the cottage you know Allenheads

:

oh yes yes

:

yes

:

and did your mam buy that

:

well my dad (interruption) really my dad bought

:

because your grandma lived in it didn't she

:

not at not at first (interruption) no no

:

not at first

:

it was just half a house at first it was just can you remember it was two bits there was like a front and a back

:

yes I do

:

well originally we just had the back

:

oh right

:

you know the

:

yes

:

whether they rented it or they bought it I'm sure my dad bought it I remember him saying it cost ninety pounds you know you know and he got a little mortgage out

:

yes

:

and bought it just it was just like two one room (pause) downstairs

:

wh one bedroom and one

:

it had two bedrooms

:

two (pause) so when the when it was together it had four then you know when you had the back and the front

:

mm-hm

:

when we used to go (pause) did it

:

mm-hm it had two bedrooms I think I'm not sure I can't remember

:

well I thought that was when it was together it had two

:

maybes it did maybes I'm getting mixed up

:

mm-hm I don't think it had four did it

:

I thought they each had like a biggish one well I mean when we all stayed in it where were we sleeping

:

eeh I don't know

:

oh it doesn't matter anyway but

:

probably

:

that was the idea that we went (pause) you know that we wouldn't have to go (interruption) away anywhere for holidays you know (interruption) so

:

(interruption) yes (interruption) yes it was nice though wasn't it

:

oh it was good

:

I mean we used to go when we were in our teens didn't we

:

well when the other one chance of another one came up you see they got that as well you know

:

yes

:

so it was good really

:

mm-hm

:

but (pause) I mean I remember getting sick of it when I was younger like when we were at school

:

yes

:

because you know I didn't really and my grandmother went and lived when they got the front she went and lived there that was it

:

yes

:

yes she lived in the front bit and we you could go to stay in the back

:

yes

:

it was a funny idea really a split house but (pause) and she you know I remember going up and staying with her I used to like because she lived with us until then

:

it had a dry toilet out the back didn't it

:

yes it did it took a few years before they got a toilet

:

mm-hm but it was in a nice place wasn't it

:

oh it was lovely (interruption) it's still nice

:

I mean it's still nice at Allenheads (interruption) isn't it

:

well it's out in the wilds isn't it

:

mm-hm

:

but we used to go on holidays when she was I think she went to live there when I was about twelve

:

mm-hm

:

so I used to go and eh (pause) we used to go and stay with her (interruption) in the holidays you know

:

yes

:

we used to enjoy it

:

mm-hm

:

she used to get all these magazines I remember and save them for me and they were all it was called the Red Letter or the Red Star they were all just like (pause) stories you know and then the m My Weekly you know

:

yes that type of thing

:

yes these love stories you know I mean terrible stories you know I mean I couldn't be bothered to read them but I thought they were great I used to put them all in order because there was a serial you see

:

oh ran through them all yes

:

you know well they were going for weeks and just sit and read them all

:

yes yes

:

but that was like holidays you know we didn't do anything (pause) and then when it got that was just when we were at school really

:

yes

:

wasn't it

:

yes

:

you know you didn't do anything days we used to have school trips didn't we

:

oh we did we went to oh where did we go Holy Island and

:

mm-hm

:

Durham and

:

the Roman Wall

:

Finchale Abbey and what have you

:

the (interruption) Roman Wall yes

:

and the Roman Wall went to the did you go to the school camp you would do

:

oh loads of times

:

yes

:

yes I used to love that

:

yes that was quite an adventure wasn't it

:

yes that was an old

:

Muggleswick

:

Muggleswick it was an old s eh church that they'd renovated they'd had it from before the war hadn't they

:

we used to take ti great huge tins of beans and

:

we just used to take remember Muggleswick soup everybody took a tin of soup

:

yes and mixed it all in

:

we had to just put it all in it only could take about twelve at a time I think but (pause) I went quite a lot (NAME) and I used to like it because we used to go like to go

:

yes

:

(unclear) you know

:

yes

:

we used to like it you know

:

it was quite exciting wasn't it (interruption) to go there

:

aye it was good you used to get off at the end of the road and it was about a quarter of a mile walk

:

it was oh yes

:

it was a good walk and you had all this gear with you didn't you

:

yes take it all with you yes

:

somebody used to give us a lift up in a lorry or something didn't they

:

I remember coming home in a lorry once because one of the girls (interruption) in our class (pause) her father was a fruit merchant

:

yes (pause) oh right

:

and he had a lorry and he called to pick us up and bring us home we were all sat in the back of the fruit were in these sacks you know

:

yes

:

potato sacks

:

yes

:

and wave to people going past and thought we were really daring you know this was about thirteen year old

:

used to like Muggleswick

:

yes it was good

:

yes

:

and then of course as we got a bit older we used to go to the dances didn't we

:

oh yes yes

:

all the dances there was one at the Brighton

:

yes

:

of course the Oxford everybody went to the Oxford (interruption) didn't they

:

yes yes (pause) previous to that I remember (NAME) this was probably when I was a little bit younger we used to go to the socials at the Ven Bede

:

oh yes

:

we used to go there

:

yes

:

I think that would be just a bit younger you know because I can remember having my white socks on

:

yes

:

you know that would be the time you went to youth club

:

that's right

:

you see that was good that youth club

:

yes

:

I never joined it but you did a lot of things there didn't you

:

yes well I used to go round with (NAME) then

:

that's right

:

and ehm (pause) we joined it when we were thirteen

:

uh-huh

:

it was the boys club the West End Boys Club

:

well (laughter) what were you doing joining the West End Boys Club

:

(laughter) well they decided they would let a few girls in so

:

you dashed there (laughter)

:

(laughter) well you were supposed to be ehm (pause) I forget what you were supposed to be fourteen or fifteen or something and we said we were

:

(laughter)

:

which we weren't you know we were thirteen

:

(laughter)

:

and probably looked it with pigtails and all sorts and we joined and we used eeh we loved it we went every night of the week we used to do different things

:

I know I wish I had I didn't

:

table tennis and there was always a dance on the Saturday

:

yes

:

and other nights there was a there was a one dance through the week as well where you learned to dance

:

eeh it was good that you know

:

yes and then other nights there was archery

:

yes

:

there was table tennis and games and and we di you did (interruption) one of these ready cut

:

you did sewing didn't you

:

rug things you know and (pause) (interruption) you made toy animals and

:

you were still going yes

:

we did all sorts of recreations and things

:

did you not play hockey for them or something

:

was I th oh yes I think I maybe did

:

(unclear)

:

played hockey for somebody and it wasn't the school

:

it was it was the youth club I remember

:

because I wasn't the least (interruption) bit sporty I hated it

:

do you know how I r that was you know when we went to the college of commerce I remember you then

:

and I still had the hockey stick

:

you were still going to the youth club then

:

oh right I was

:

because I remember you were making a skirt because there was a sewing (pause) (interruption) thing

:

that's right a sewing

:

and I remember thinking it was really good and I was thinking of joining then you left (laughter) you know

:

yes

:

when you were

:

been about seventeen or something

:

yes well that'll be about the age we were you see

:

yes

:

and I had I mean I suppose I'd heard of it because one of the other ones at school

:

yes

:

just where we were we were just that (pause) bit further (interruption) down you know

:

bit further yes yes

:

and there was nothing like that round

:

it was a g it was a marvellous thing (interruption) as I say I was there every night and that's where I learned to do all the dances and everything (interruption)

:

(interruption) eeh it was (pause) eeh I know (interruption) I mean you learned a lot really you did archery didn't you

:

we used to do we had special dances every now and again

:

yes

:

like Easter time

:

yes

:

and in the winter there was always a tramp's ball and you got all (interruption) dressed up and you had to go as a tramp with all the sooty face and the strawy hair and everything you know and (interruption)

:

(interruption) yes (pause) yes (pause) yes (interruption) it's funny that I'll tell you who was talking

:

fancy dress

:

it was (NAME) (NAME) used to go didn't she

:

I can't remember (interruption) her going

:

I think she said

:

she might have done

:

you know when aye when I was at that pensioner's lunch

:

yes

:

(unclear) she was talking to (NAME) (NAME) and they were talking about the youth club (interruption) you know

:

yes yes (pause) it really was good you know it was for those days it was very good

:

well I think it was probably better than the things they have now you know

:

well probably yes

:

yes I mean we used to go I

:

and of course when we did go to the dances when we got older like

:

you would know how to dance (interruption) properly

:

eighteen yes

:

where as I never did really I mean I used to shuffle round the floor but I was never (pause) very good you know I mean (interruption) (unclear)

:

yes didn't do the right steps

:

I went with (NAME) and we went to some because she used to go to a dancing class when she was younger you know

:

mm

:

one of those ones they used to go to

:

yes

:

like ballet and everything you know

:

yes

:

she did ballet

:

tap dancing and things

:

well I did tap dancing

:

(laughter)

:

when I was little

:

(laughter) you didn't did you (laughter)

:

eeh I did

:

I can't imagine you tap (interruption) dancing

:

eeh did I never tell you I must have told you that man I had those red shoes with the bows Stan Emery's Tap Dancing (pause) on our street and they used to have the eh displays at the Plaza

:

were you in them

:

yes

:

good lord how on earth did you keep the rhythm (laughter)

:

I don't think I and I was only little I didn't go for very long

:

yes

:

oh yes I used to go to the tap dancing I used to be do tap dancing

:

uh-huh

:

(NAME) didn't go she wouldn't go

:

no

:

but ehm anyway I remember going to ballroom once with (NAME)

:

yes

:

you know just for a few so I must have learned something like you know

:

yes

:

because after she'd gave up the ballet you know they started doing ballroom and I went with her a few times you know

:

mm

:

we used to go to things then we used to go to the Ven Bede's as I say

:

mm-hm

:

to the socials there I used to love those we used to go on a Saturday night it was good

:

there was a lot of that kind of thing then (interruption) wasn't there

:

oh eh there were a lot of dramatics there's a lot of plays I used to (interruption) go people used to do a lot of (pause) (interruption) plays

:

(interruption) yes (interruption) yes our church did the amateur you remember coming with me

:

oh I remember those yes I do

:

we went for years

:

yes

:

amateur dramatics

:

yes yes

:

which was a good thing wasn't it

:

eeh I know they use

:

they still do it mind here through at Westerhope (interruption) don't they

:

oh yes there's still quite a few do (unclear) in fact I think it's become more popular again that

:

come back again yes

:

yes but we used to go round all the different ones you know

:

mm

:

we used to have in some ways you had more freedom in a way didn't you we used to wander all (interruption) over the place

:

you did and I mean you didn't you weren't worried about eh coming home late at night or anything

:

oh no

:

I mean when we went to the Oxford and what was that what do you call that other one that's still on the go you know

:

eh

:

you know beside the Co op

:

oh I know yes

:

it's gone

:

eeh it has with me (NAME) (pause) Majestic no

:

no

:

no that was at the bottom of the Westgate Road wasn't it the Majest

:

that was a f that was a picture house yes

:

yes but it was a ballroom as well

:

oh was it

:

can you not remember it being a dance

:

where're you talking about down at eh

:

it uh-huh they had a ballroom there (unclear) when the picture closed I'm I th getting mixed up

:

I don't know I can't remember going to a dance there

:

eeh I think I can

:

mm-hm

:

perhaps I'm getting mixed up

:

but I mean we used to come u out of the Oxford

:

Mayfair (laughter)

:

the Mayfair (interruption) that's right yes

:

(laughter) I knew it would come

:

and we used to walk I mean if we'd obviously missed the last bus sometimes

:

oh we just used to walk home up the West Road

:

mm-hm

:

but I mean if you did that now you'd be murdered before you

:

I w I wouldn't even like to walk down the West Road now

:

no

:

it's such a weird place now

:

it's weird it is

:

that West Road down the bottom

:

I know

:

there's all sorts

:

it's a bit

:

I certainly wouldn't like to walk up it

:

no

:

(unclear) wouldn't

:

especially at midnight (laughter)

:

midnight and one o'clock in the morning

:

mind I can remember my mother complaining about it

:

saying 'you shouldn't be walking (interruption) up there'

:

yes

:

yes I can't but I suppose they must have done you know

:

yes I remember her saying it was ridiculous you know

:

mm

:

you know but I mean it wasn't half as ridiculous as it would as it would be nowadays

:

yes

:

but you know she did used to c mind it was probably quite a few people walking about you know

:

yes

:

there always is

:

oh yes

:

course you see then this is it

:

that's right

:

everybody's in cars now

:

yes

:

you know if you went down the West Road you know you could (pause) mind having said that when we used to be in each other's houses we used to be (pause) in fact I mean you were once somebody once tried to lure you in their car didn't they

:

that's right

:

coming past

:

coming back here

:

yes from my house to yours

:

yes

:

we get on talking

:

yes walking up the West Road

:

yes

:

that was really late because there wasn't a soul about there wasn't anybody in sight (pause) it was about one o'clock

:

yes

:

or something you know

:

yes God knows what we were doing at that time of the morning

:

well you know we start talking and (pause) w I came out

:

yes

:

walked the way round and this car just drew up and (pause) shouted 'come across' you know

:

uh-huh

:

I just remember thinking oh I'm going to run across to the hospital it was opposite

:

mm-hm

:

and there was a man on the gates

:

yes well you see

:

commissionaires

:

this is it you see there were people like that

:

yes

:

weren't there

:

yes (interruption) I thought I would run across there

:

course there aren't now no

:

but eh

:

nobody looking out for anybody now you see

:

no no

:

can't

:

the different eh

:

(laughter) (pause) you know

:

eeh yes you wouldn't like but you y you know you wouldn't like (pause) seventeen year old daughters or anything (interruption) wondering around now

:

oh no no

:

you would have to know where they were

:

yes

:

and what time they were in and everything wouldn't you

:

yes

:

different eh

:

oh it was a lot safer I think really well certainly we felt a lot safer you know

:

well we did yes I mean I can remember when s (NAME) and I had bikes and we were about fifteen say and we used to cycle through to eh (pause) Mitford which is (interruption) just outside Morpeth there and we used to cycle through from Wingrove when we both lived in the same street

:

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

:

and we used to take a picnic (interruption) in the saddlebag (interruption)

:

(interruption) it's a long way (interruption) mm-hm

:

I don't know how I was so energetic I can't think that I ever was very energetic but I must have been

:

yes

:

and we used to cycle out there and eh (pause) find a field

:

yes

:

and sit and h completely on our own

:

yes (interruption) yes

:

sit and have a picnic

:

yes

:

and then cycle all the (interruption) way back

:

yes

:

well I mean you wouldn't

:

no well we used to go for a walk we used I remember once we used what (NAME) and I used to do and her cousin who was called (NAME) we used to go I remember like take a bus out somewhere and walk back

:

yes

:

I remember going right the way out to Ponteland walking all the way back from Ponteland

:

mm-hm

:

I remember it was a red hot day

:

yes

:

but sometimes I remember once taking a bus out to ehm we thought it looked nice the name Clara Vale (pause) you know near Ryton

:

where's that

:

it's up near Ryton

:

oh right

:

and it's a right (pause) pit village and I mean it probably doesn't look very nice and I didn't think it was all that marvellous but just (interruption) thought

:

you thought it sounded nice

:

I know so we walked so far back then got a bus we used to do that used t we used to go walking and we used to get the bus up to Denton Square

:

yes

:

and walk round there and down in the (unclear) you know

:

yes

:

with those ones from school like (NAME) (NAME) and (unclear)

:

yes

:

and that you know walks round there

:

we used to walk up to Denton Square there used to be a (pause) (interruption) ducks and geese and things there was a farm up there where yeah

:

a nice walk (pause) there was a nice walk at Denton Square yes you could walk through to Westerhope (interruption) along that lane it was like a country road you know (interruption)

:

(interruption) yes (interruption) yes it was rather nice really

:

and round here we used to walk really you know

:

yes

:

which it was all country of course

:

before this was all built yes

:

oh yes

:

I remember (interruption) coming out of the ehm (pause) Jingling Gate which is just down here now (interruption)

:

(interruption) I always liked walking (interruption) eeh yes

:

and that was kind of a big trip out (interruption) into the country you know for a drink to come out when we first started to go round with people with cars you know (interruption)

:

(interruption) yes yes yes yes (pause) yes yes (interruption) yes

:

if you went on a date you would come out to The Jingling Gate (laughter)

:

(laughter)

:

big night out you know

:

eeh I know

:

when you think have a drink out there or The Blackbird at Ponteland

:

yes well I suppose people still go out there mind you know

:

well I suppose so

:

but you wouldn't think it was so far

:

we thought we were going a bit further in those days really

:

oh yes yes

:

yes big excitement you know

:

I know (laughter) I mean

:

I suppose we did think we were safer I mean eh (pause) I I'm trying to think how old our (NAME) would be because I ca remember him going away down to the eh Festival of Britain

:

yes

:

was that nineteen fifty one

:

yes

:

well he would only be fifteen

:

yes

:

and he went away down with eh (pause) two pals of his (NAME) and ha you know (NAME)

:

(unclear) yes

:

(unclear) and ehm (pause) I can't rem I suppose he must have stayed overnight they wouldn't go I don't think

:

be a day

:

you couldn't

:

you wouldn't be able to it would take too long the trains (interruption) took ages then

:

so they went away down there he took all photographs I (interruption) think I've still got them you know the (unclear) and things (pause) there was different things like that in that exhibition

:

yes (pause) I wonder where he stayed yes yes (pause) mm-hm

:

oh I remember that (interruption) yes

:

I don't know where they stayed (pause) but I mean he was only fifteen you know

:

yes eeh well we were only nineteen when we went to that you know that was towards the end of eh the fifties

:

when we went to London

:

when we went to London

:

yes

:

we went and stayed in that boarding house didn't we

:

yes (interruption) we did

:

in Kensington

:

for a week eeh it was lovely (interruption) wasn't it

:

yes eeh wasn't it that was our first holiday away wasn't it

:

yes

:

on our own

:

except for Allenheads and things

:

oh yes

:

yes

:

uh-huh we used to go to Allenheads and we'd been to Muggleswick with the (interruption) school and everything oh we'd been to Allenheads a few times hadn't we (interruption)

:

(interruption) yes (pause) yes (pause) yes (interruption) yes yes

:

but that was the first sort of holiday wasn't it you know

:

yes a real holiday away

:

yes

:

we went somewhere every night didn't we

:

I know we did

:

we went all over saw everything didn't we

:

yes yes

:

went all over the place you know

:

and that was like London little boarding house (unclear) then the next year we we went abroad didn't we

:

yes

:

would that be we went to s no the first one (interruption) was that one we went

:

no we went pa Paris

:

Paris Brussels and Amsterdam

:

that's right (laughter)

:

and it was called Blue Car Travel and it cost (pause) nineteen fif nineteen pound ten shillings

:

yes

:

for the holiday

:

and the following year we went to Montreux for a week

:

yes

:

and that was something like twenty three pound

:

yes it was

:

when you think

:

I know

:

twenty three pound

:

I remember it was less than twenty pound that Paris Brussels and Amsterdam trip

:

eeh (pause) honestly

:

and that was the end of the things were you know we started to get more luxury things in the houses then (interruption) didn't we

:

yes that's right

:

you know and right from the beginning there was a big change wasn't there really

:

yes

:

very drab like the early naturally after the war

:

well there wasn't the stuff to get (interruption) was there

:

no I mean you just couldn't get anything

:

food or goods or anything you know

:

I know it's just

:

oh I've got to say it out loud sorry

:

(laughter)

:

I'm just sitting reading it here

:

(laughter) you dope

:

(laughter)

:

well that would tell them an awful lot

:

oh well I thought it was something we had to do after that you see

:

no th she wants to hear you reading them

:

oh right

:

right

:

uh-huh 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 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 bank lamp leap cap steep it lap it apron matron micro Metro leprosy petrol acrid atlas hopper butter packer topple bottle hackle whisper custard after whisker doctor chapter jumper hunter bunker appear attend occur appearance attendance occurrence alpine alter polka (pause) staircase half past half cut automatic Jupiter epileptic sheet read breeze key gate maid may boat load (pause) go boot brood booze brew out loud cow site side size sigh sighed knife five knives dive dial Friday diary 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 firelighters pack it in or beat it he's putting it off he put in a bid jump up on the tractor he won't do that in a hurry put a comma in it

:

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 put it in boot Bootle hooter bite title mitre pint (pause) 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 (pause) apron matron micro Metro leprosy petrol acrid atlas (pause) hopper butter packer topple bottle hackle (pause) whisper custard after whisker doctor chapter jumper hunter bunker (pause) appear attend occur appearance attendance occurrence alpine alter polka (pause) staircase half past half cut (pause) automatic Jupiter epileptic sheet read breeze key gate maid may boat load go (pause) boot brood booze brew out loud cow (pause) site side size sigh sighed knife five knives dive dial Friday diary 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 firelighters pack it in or beat it he's putting it off he put in a bid jump up on the tractor he won't do that in a hurry put a comma in it (laughter)