the pub

it's String's aye

mm-hm

ehm (pause) but (pause) when my father was in it was the Queens

mm-hm

and he was second man there

mm-hm

because he always wanted to be manager at eh that bar (pause) and he was at the time

was that Deuchar's was it then

aye aye the Deuchar's

(unclear)

and at the time he was (pause) working for (pause) W H Smith

do you remember what they called Deuchar's beer

the eh

Duddingston Ales

was it

aye Duddingston Ales was Deuchar's beer aye

I didn't know that like

aye then they went on to Lockstrom

aye

Lockside

that was before I was drinking that

I'm sorry about that (unclear)

but eh

before I was drinking as well

because what used the cheers mate the ehm (pause) well I always remember eh in eh you know Marlborough Crescent

(unclear) aye (pause) (NAME) the paper man

aye (NAME) and the police (pause) down there

there was (NAME) (NAME)

eh

Fatty (NAME)

aye eh Goofie (pause) we used to call him up the lane

mm-hm (pause) mm-hm

you know it's like Polly Realand's the shop (pause) and I remember him

did you ever gan round the Knightsie's the bookies down at the back lane

aye w w well that was were it was

Knightsie's

down down by Knightsie's but he used to come (pause) and if you were eh anywhere near that Marlborough Crescent (pause) because we were just bairns like

mm-hm

he was eh (pause) give you a good tanning like

mm-hm

bring you home (pause) and then your father'd give you a good tanning and all (pause) for being brought in by the police because you were in the wrong place to start with

remember when Knightsie's bookies shop was when he had that wey it wasn't a shop it was a house (pause) along the street and he used to have his touts outside because you weren't allowed to bet on the streets

that's right aye

we used to gan along there with wor bets and they used to be looking all over the place looking for the police and if the police was there the blokes would just say 'keep on walking son'

(laughter)

(unclear) business

aye

divn't come in divn't come in (unclear) went straight through up under the arch

aye

past Josie's eh (interruption) shop on the corner

that's (pause) aye that's right aye (interruption) (unclear)

Polly Realand's (unclear)

aye

(unclear)

but ehm (pause) because I remember down there (pause) eh well now our house is eh City Motors

aye do you remember Hall Foster's with the with the big eh (pause) factory the back of the (pause) ehm (pause) back of the stall Hall Foster's the chemists the manufacturing chemists

the back of the stall

you know the back of the stall

(interruption) aye

Hall Foster's had the (unclear)

(interruption) up ehm

there was the (unclear) browned for the Guinness

aye Temple Street

Temple Street

aye

and it was eh Hall Foster's

that's right aye

uh-huh

well

Sinclair's

aye

we used to (unclear) there

because (pause) it's behind there (pause) where the ehm (pause) the smallest cemetery

Jewish cemetery

that's right aye

it's in it's (interruption) (unclear)

it's the smallest cemetery in Britain

aye it's in it's in between the buildings

that's right aye

well I was (interruption) (unclear)

and eh

I was in did you (unclear) see it

I never ever went in

it's (interruption) (unclear) it's about

I looked (unclear) I've I've overlooked it when I was working down on the eh star

I went through it because my dad and I (unclear) we used (unclear) well my father was a sign writer and I was (unclear) (unclear) (unclear) (unclear) gan in there and drinking Guinness (pause) and we went in through there (pause) and you had to gan through the bond and out through the back

that's right (interruption) aye aye

and it takes you through takes you through in the where there used to be (unclear) wash (unclear) and eh it was enclosed nobody could see it and the grass was beautiful and green

aye aye

I think there was a couple of trees in it and there was only about six gravestones

aye

you know

well I divn't know how far it's true (pause) but (pause) the last person to be hanged in Gallowgate is in that cemetery

well they must have been a Jew because it's a Jewish cemetery

well that was the last (pause) mind I as I say I divn't know how far it's true (pause) but according you know when you talk to people

mm-hm

the last person that was ever hanged at Gallowgate (pause) was eh buried in there

oh I didn't know that like (unclear)

as I say I divn't know how far it's true but I mean that's just that was just hearsay (unclear)

talking about when you know we used to play marbles (unclear) cobbled streets well I used to

oh aye

you used to take the cobbles out you'd dig a cobble out

aye

and make the holes

that's

and have three holes

aye

and play killer

aye

and you used to play tin block remember you used to put the tin block in the (unclear)

aye aye

the two bits of stick on

aye

and knock the sticks off

aye

and then run away

ehm (pause) what was that other th what was that game that we all played man one stood at the wall (pause) one stood

multy kitty

multy kitty

aye

now that was (pause) the game (pause) that everybody played

aye yeah

you could play it like anywhere (interruption) you know

well the back lanes where we used to play the kids would be playing outside and the women would come out in the streets

oh (interruption) aye

and they'd turn the skipping rope

aye (interruption) yeah

and all the lassies would be playing skippies

mm

the lads would be playing football cricket or t or shotty in goals you know used to that's where they learnt all the dribbling

aye

you used to you each had a back door

that's right

and you defended it

aye

you tried to score against (unclear) killer

aye

but you learnt to dribble

aye that was well that's where all the good footballers come from

aye tops and whips

eh

and eh what was the other one (pause) tally ho

tally ho was a one

hidey tuggy on high (pause) and the lasses used to play with them (pause) eh (pause) chucks

oh aye chucks aye five chucks

used to (pause) throw the ball up and keep picking the the chuck up (unclear)

just with five stones

remember that one

you know it was

used t used to you used to play bays the hop scotch (unclear) I think (unclear) they've got it in schools now they've got them on the (interruption) on the playgrounds

got a one on the (unclear) this one here aye

but you never see kids playing outside here or anywhere (interruption) now

you never see them

never see them play eh a game

no because you see I mean just take the other day I was looking (pause) and there was a laddie there he couldn't have been more than (pause) five years old (pause) just at the bottom here and he's riding around on a ehm

(unclear)

on a motorbike a miniature motorbike

aye I seen it

you know little (pause) six volt battery driven motorbike well I mean I you just didn't even have them did you

no

because

you didn't have push bikes in them days (unclear)

no

I mean (unclear) three wheeler

(unclear) getting back to your (unclear)

aye (unclear)

you know that w that was your only form of transport wasn't it

mm-hm aye (laughter)

(laughter)

aye

it got you from your mother's to your granny's

aye

you know I mean you had no trouble with (pause) punctures because you didn't have (unclear) (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) it cost nowt really (unclear) to play

no nothing we played (pause) cost anything

no

your chucks eh was five pebbles

mm-hm

you know

aye

ehm

we used to make a

your can

you know talking about stuffing a case with a paper we used to we just used to make a t paper tie up in a ball

aye

tie with string kick that around

aye well we had a posh one because we were from a very very posh area of Newcastle

(unclear)

(unclear) Street

(unclear) aye

and an o an old case ball where you just pressed all the paper in (pause) you know I mean you didn't have the lace to gan in the case ball but

mm-hm

you know you just kept filling it with paper didn't you

you would have been too young to be a evacuee though (NAME) were you

oh aye oh that was before m I was eh a evacuee from school (pause) when I used to run back to my mother

(laughter)

eh

no I'm thinking about when nineteen thirty or thirty eight thirty nine I can remember thinking about eh Hitler was ganning to supposed to be a bad lad at the time

aye

(unclear) it was all the papers (pause) and you were getting fitted up with gas masks and eh we had to gan to school with wor gas masks on and I remember the Mickey Mouse ones for the (pause) for the youngsters about

aye

five or something

aye

and I remember the the tank ones (pause) about that high (interruption) (unclear)

oh I can remember that aye

put the bairns in (interruption) there

I've seen them I mean

aye put the bairns

aye

in in the in the full case

were like a Dalek

aye well with their arms

aye

and their legs sticking out and you had to (pause) press the the top for for the air to gan in

that's right aye

(unclear) terrifying

I've seen a one but I've never ever

I remember when they when they were (interruption) playing

never seen them being used

the ARP that was the Air Raid Precaution people

aye

and the AFS the Auxiliary Fire Service they are that was the sort of a (pause) amateur fire brigade and they used to do these eh gas attacks and the first time I ever saw this bloke in a suit (pause) all black suit I mean he had the these great big eyes and the he had this mask what we didn't have great big trunk came off into this pouch into there great big gloves on great big

sorry (NAME)

great big wellies and they were they had these sign boards they were painted like a mustard colour (pause) or green and they used to turn mustard if they put the gas (interruption) (unclear)

aye aye aye

they used to put a touch of gas on colour used to change and these blokes were ganning around with these (unclear) the the rattles you had at the matches

aye

well that was the gas warning sign

the gas warnings aye

they used to gan round with these rattles and and (unclear) were watching these exhibitions I was terrified when I saw this bloke running about with this great big (pause) massive eyes on this gas mask you know geet big trunk coming out like that I was absolutely terrified and he was (pause) waving a rattle (pause) and then the fire the AFS was running around putting ladders up and all that and then we had the (pause) soldiers pretending they were doing mock street fighting

yeah

(unclear) well you you wouldn't (unclear) they used to be eh come along (pause) s at street corners and they had these rifles and there were

aye

firing crackers and everything they were supposed to be defending the place (pause) then they when they come and bombed when the Germans come over and bombed Spiller's and we lived (pause) in between there was Jews living on either side of we (pause) the Jerries came over and they dropped incendiaries they went through the houses the roofs (pause) on the Jews on either side of us and we had them in wor house and they were screaming and everything (pause) the fire brigade was there putting fires out and they never touched us

aye

because we were Catholics you see (laughter)

oh aye you would be aye

so he picked on the two Jews funny (laughter) he hit the two Jews

(unclear) like

on either side of we

aye

aye and then I was evacuated (pause) I went to first of all I went to Carlisle in nineteen thirty nine eh war broke out on Friday the first of September (pause) no no we were evacuated on Friday the first of September and war broke out on Sunday the third of September and I was in (pause) eh Maryport at the time I was in a Catholic priory (pause) and they called the Italian priest (pause) Father Primavesi that was his name I went back there (pause) about ten year ago (pause) I went back to Maryport

mm

where I had been an evacuee well I was only (pause) seven year old I think nineteen thirty nine

aye

and I went to this (unclear) (unclear) they didn't have a (pause) a visitors' book (interruption) (unclear)

oh aye

(unclear) I went in and I couldn't remember if I'd signed my name in it and when I went in I I (pause) told them who I was like and they they let us go in the house like and I walked all round the house and I remember it from it hadn't changed

mm-hm

from when I'd been a kid the place was still the same (pause) and I asked them if they had a book and they said no they never never had kept a visitors' book you see

aye

(unclear) it was very interesting I went in (unclear) i in the walled garden it was completely derelict compared to when we were there because they were it was all we were all cultivating you see we dug all the garden and had plants and everything growing and when I went in there it was that big they couldn't afford anybody (unclear) look after it you see when we were there there was about fourteen of us kids

aye aye

and we all (pause) got to dig and weed the garden like you had to dig for victory sort of style and we had all this (pause) lot of gardening (unclear) it was

mm-hm

it was champion then but eh (pause) when I was there in nineteen thirty nine I was taken to hospital Carlisle Infirmary had an operation on my foot (pause) called (pause) osteomyelitis and now they treat it with drugs (pause) but then they had to have an operation on it

aye

so I went to Carlisle Infirmary (pause) eh (pause) I don't know if that came back from there (pause) and I was sent to Workington on the second evacuation (pause) our little wor little (pause) tags on there you know

aye

probably seen them on the news for the

aye

lost children you know (pause) taken over by (unclear) teachers and our parents used to come over I think once a month used to come and visit we (unclear) I enjoyed (pause) (unclear) I enjoyed the war in one sense (pause) it was exciting (pause) course we didn't realize what had happened (interruption) (unclear)

no you didn't understand it did you

it was frightening when the aeroplanes w when the sirens went off but you we didn't get much trouble in Newcastle really in compared to what they got down in eh Coventry and London and places like that you know but eh

oh aye

it was frightening up to a point but we didn't realize the the dangers fully all I remember was that they put sweets on the ration (pause) we didn't mind when the soap went on the ration (pause) but when sweets went on the ration (interruption) we couldn't get sw

aye (unclear) big deal aye

oh dear me

aye but I mean it's it's like the little ones now (pause) the young ones now I mean they're d (pause) they're doing things there (pause) they don't understand isn't it (interruption) I mean not (unclear) (unclear) child

they've never been deprived

I mean (pause) my little grand bairn there he gets on a bike take the stabilisers off and off he gans (pause) doesn't think falls down hurts his head he didn't think what was going to happen or what could happen you know and that's the way yous were when yous went when you were evacuated

mm-hm

you didn't realize what was happening it was (unclear) a holiday probably

mm-hm it was in one sense

aye the only thing that was missing (pause) was your jam and bread and your bottle of water

(laughter)

with the crumbs in the bottom wasn't it and (unclear) stamp on your hand

do you remember when they (pause) used to come round j eh with the milk when you used to get it out the can

(unclear)

the churn used to come round on a horse and cart

oh aye

and they used to sell milk

aye

aye

you used to get that in the town

aye

used to come around and your mother used to gan up and get a jug

they also used to come round selling selling watercress remember a bloke (interruption) (unclear)

aye watercress aye

watercress (interruption) vinegar

they're bringing it all back now like

aye he used to come a bloke he used to come round selling vinegar

aye oh aye the vinegar

(unclear)

and he used to come round and sharpen all your eh knives

aye the grinder

the grinder used to come around

(unclear) the candy man (unclear)

aye

(unclear) (unclear) candy man

but it was all like a grape vine and all

oh aye

because (pause) everybody (pause) you know he would say 'oh I've just been talking to Mrs eh (pause) Mrs so and so there did you know (pause) the father was bad' or something like that you know and it just (unclear) used to gan around and and like all round the town everybody knew everybody's business

mm-hm

didn't they

yeah

but nobody used to call people (unclear)

you always you always had the local busy body

aye

(unclear) if your (pause) mother was ill

oh aye aye

or if your your mother was expecting a bairn she'd be there

aye aye

she would lay your father out you know

aye

if if your father died she would if anybody died

oh yeah aye

you had one of these people who lived there would gan (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) give them the wash and all of that and lay them out

anybody had an accident that busy body

aye

everybody used to say busy body but she was

aye

good as gold

aye

straight to the house to help you out

aye

owt you want nurse (interruption) (unclear)

but I mean

and the one I'm thinking about is Mrs (NAME) she used to terrify me she was a Yorkshire woman and she would come (pause) down she had lived used to live upstairs and she used to be at the window and she used to look and she used to look for somebody that was (unclear) messages she'd just say to you 'come here I want you' and you dursn't gan away you used to stand at the bottom of the stairs she c used to come (unclear) your hand put the note in 'there you are gan get my groceries'

aye

and she would send you for the groceries then you'd come back and she'd say gan for my veg and you'd n you never got away and she used to send you to the pawn shop (pause) for her man's suit on a Saturday

aye

this was (unclear) used to gan to the pawn shop (unclear) pawn shop

(unclear) aye

gan up there use (pause) well I was put (unclear) 'don't let anybody take that off you' gan up there (unclear) might have been about a shilling or something you know (unclear) hell of a lot of money used to gan up there gan in the pawn shop get the suit bring it back give her it and you done about six messages (laughter)

aye

and she'd she'd give you a penny

and you got a penny aye (interruption) or a bullet

you used to spend about three hours because you used to stand in the queues you had to you had to queue for everything

that's right

you had to queue for your groceries queue at the green grocers queue at the butchers you'd queue at the pawn shop and you were ages you used to gan 'I'm only gan to get a penny for this' but it was a hell of a lot of money

you could you could run around all morning doing messages for a bullet (pause) and they used to turn around and they used to say to you 'now look (unclear) I'm gan to give you a bullet (pause) (unclear) sweet and you'll get a bullet if you get all these done' and you used to (unclear) about (pause) with your coat tied (interruption) your burberry

(unclear)

with one button tied there you know because then it was Zorro

aye or the Mystery Riders

or the Mystery Riders aye and you just because you went faster

aye (laughter)

actually from shop to shop giving yourself (unclear) all the time you know (pause) I think that's how we didn't feel it (pause) hurt when wor mothers hit we you know because we were (unclear)

aye we used to gan to the

and we used to run around with this burberry (pause) flying in the wind you know you know making marks on the wall like that ehm (pause) but you used to do that and you never (pause) used to argue did you and y you just said something to

y you always did what you were told (unclear)

if they says you did that you went and done it

mm-hm

if a if a policeman turned around and says (pause) 'now stop that' y you stopped immediately I mean you didn't think twice you didn't turn around and say 'well w what for like' you just did it

mm

anything that any elder said you did without question you didn't

mm-hm

I mean (pause) eh (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) we had discipline (unclear)

ay

I suppose the worst th even in them days there'd be some (pause) some people wouldn't like you and still had some bad kids didn't you (interruption) (unclear)

oh (unclear) but I I'll tell you what

in the main

I wa

(unclear) we were all disciplined

I was gan to say because I mean you got the little pincher I can remember standing (pause) when eh some lads about (pause) I don't know how old they would be then (pause) maybes about fourteen or something like that broke into the back of Sinclair's (pause) and I'd two bags of three penny bits and at the time I would be (pause) eh f three or four (pause) and the police came this was in back of Temple Street

mm-hm

and I was standing with two bags of three penny bits

(unclear) bag (unclear) (unclear)

(unclear) and I run out (pause) and pushed the two b he says 'give me the two bags' and I'm standing like a little tin of milk

mm-hm

with my two bags of three penny bits I'll never ever forget it

so you got a criminal record ay (NAME) (laughter)

that was before I before I'd left school (laughter)

did you know (NAME) (NAME) that lived along there

who

(NAME) (NAME)

(NAME)

(NAME) aye

oh aye I knew (NAME) aye

(interruption) (unclear) (unclear)

canny (pause) eh

(unclear)

the (NAME) they were a heavy squad

aye

ehm

remember (unclear) the bookies (unclear) (pause) little milker

no I can not remember them (pause) no (interruption) (unclear)

did you ever gan to the Gaiety

oh I used to gan to the Gaiety all the time

(laughter)

oh (interruption) (unclear) Gaiety aye

(unclear) (unclear)

aye

you used to gan in the door and he used to count you along on the seats and he used to put three of yous on on t on t between two seats

that's right aye

and they knew when it was your turn to gan out

aye

soon soon as you (unclear) 'get out you've seen the pictures' (unclear) checkie used to (unclear)

oh aye

Gaiety

the Gaiety was something ehm (unclear) used to open a what do you call it open the eh fire exit

aye hoy you out

aye

aye

(unclear) used to

you only came in one door and went out the other

you used aye you used to you used to get loads used to get in

mm-hm

the Gaiety through the fire exit like you know

I remember when I got posh when I was about (pause) about fourteen when I (interruption) started working

aye what was it again I think it was ehm

(unclear) upstairs (unclear) dead posh

I think it was three pence when I used to gan

no I think (unclear)

(unclear) three pence

I think it was less than that like eh two pence downstairs at the front three pence

aye at the front

downstairs

I was always at the front (unclear)

three pence downstairs in the back

aye

and I think it was (pause) nine pence

oh oh I never went up there no

ni ni upstairs oh you're dead posh then

aye

nine pence aye

never went up there (unclear)

didn't get fleas up the stairs you just got fleas when you were downstairs

but the Gaiety ehm (interruption) (unclear)

you used to gan (pause) you used to gan (interruption) (unclear)

they were talking about something there you know all this about (pause) eh blokes messing about with children

mm-hm

you know the Gaiety I was once there on a Saturday (pause) and a fellow was in it well you know all the bairn (unclear) all sat in front didn't we

aye aye

you know (pause) Hopalong Cassidy and that (pause) and a fellow was caught there oh he was beaten up and all ehm for touching children now that was when I (pause) when I was about (pause) four maybes three or four

mm

and that's a long time ago fifty years ago so it happened then (pause) (interruption) as well as now

(unclear)

but it never ever came out

mm

then because what happened then was (pause) the ehm (pause) well the women would have turned him over like you know because the women were hard like (unclear) there isn't (pause) any doubt about it is there

no (interruption) (unclear)

the women were hard I mean they would just as easy put their fists up as

(interruption) (unclear)

as take any slagging but all they did with that that that fellow I I can remember standing in the in the back lane (pause) w what was the name of the lane

Lansdowne Street

Lansdowne Street was it

mm-hm

(unclear) stand s and watch this bloke getting turned over

mm-hm

you know and I divn't suppose he ever come back I don't suppose he ever showed his face in Newcastle again

mm

but I can remember that happening one Saturday morning because Saturday morning was your your big day you know that was the day when (pause) and that was another day when your coat was on back to front and

(laughter) (unclear) gan to the Gem and all did you

the Gem aye

the Gem

that was another one

(unclear) we used to gan to eh

eh

on the Friday we used to gan to the eh the pi the church hall (pause) eh Park Road and Grey Street used to gan and watch watch Our Gang

aye

and the (pause) Dead End Street the eh (pause) (unclear)

the the Boundary Boys (interruption) (unclear)

Boundary Boys

that that was (unclear) Boundaries aye

(unclear) (unclear) Clutching Hand

aye

the go was it Clutching Hand eh (pause) and Zorro oh and eh Flash Gordon

oh (interruption) Flash aye

(laughter)

(unclear) he was good like Flash Gordon

Buster Crabbe yeah that was exciting (unclear) wasn't it

but you know going through them stages like that if you think back to when you were when I was ehm (pause) seventeen (pause) you had eh (pause) the English Martyrs

mm-hm

you had ehm (pause) Gosforth church dance

mm-hm

you had eh

Saint Michael's

Saint Michael's

and Tanner Hop

Heaton

mm-hm

you had all of them

well you had the eh

dances where you went

the Brighton

and I mean by that age then you were like working and you had a few shilling and eh you saved up didn't you for the James Dean jeans I mean they were the (interruption) (unclear)

I was never I was never a trendy guy

did you not

no

I remember my first pair of (interruption) James Deans

never had the D A

they were four pound (pause) they were four pound (pause) two and six or something like that you know and it was (pause) when I got them (pause) it was a lot of money that like (unclear) you know (pause) and you put them on and you sat in the bath long before it ever come on television here like but you sat in the bath you know you're sitting there with your jeans on smart as a little carrot (unclear) until they shrunk

this is my second pair of jeans in my life

ah

sec (interruption) (unclear)

I'll tell you what you're getting good wear out of them like

I wouldn't wear (laughter)

(laughter)

I wouldn't I wouldn't wear jeans and I wouldn't wear trainers

oh well you didn't wear trainers

no but I mean (unclear) you know the trainers (unclear)

aye well your dress for the my dress and I'll the lass was called (NAME) (NAME) (pause) and I can remember her coming into the Cowgate school (pause) to the what did you call it again Play Centre

mm-hm

remember

did you get into the (unclear) did you

no oh aye we went to the (interruption) (unclear)

you went to the (unclear)

but at the Play Centre and I had met this lass (pause) and eh she was most sought after this lassie like (unclear) was a smart lass like (pause) and ehm (pause) I had (unclear) I'd just getten (pause) a James One Two Five the motorbike you know

mm-hm

so I gans into this dance I've got my Marlon Brando jacket (pause) all right because it went across that way remember

mm-hm

what was it On The Waterfront

yeah

the film so everybody had to have them like it was plastic

(laughter)

yeah bit different to this your James Dean jeans (pause) and your wellies but you had to have sea socks so that when you had your wellies on they turned over the top you know

aye l like coasters

so your le top of your leg was like that with these wellies on and that was a dance you know for the dance and I went in and here's this (NAME) (NAME) (pause) in a gr in a white (pause) actually I think it was an old eh (pause) sort of wedding dress or something or a bridesmaid's dress cut down a bit you know and here (interruption) she was in this

how how old were you

I would be eh (pause) just when I got my first bike sixteen (pause) when I went in and I I'll never ever forget it we must have looked great if anybody could have getten a photo there (pause) it would have made the headlines here like

(laughter)

(laughter) but don't give (unclear) now you know

phew

(unclear) her with her long dress you know and me with my great wellies on (pause) course your wellies had to have the big thick (unclear) you remember the bottoms that

aye

you know were about (interruption) that

(unclear) aye

thick aye with all the ribbing and all that I can remember dancing around with that aye I was smart as a carrot but the place was full you were out you were back in the house long before nine o'clock

y did you have the Tony Curtis D A or (pause) did you

oh I I could never grow (interruption) (unclear)

or did you wear the semi the drapes

I I always had long hair

did you gan for the drapes

actually I think I was grey when I was fourteen

(laughter)

(laughter) it seems about that (interruption) (unclear)

I never followed the trend

oh wey the next thing was your drape

mm-hm

you know now I can remember my first one that my mother got me oh she went crazy

Jackson's

aye

the Jackson's

Jackson's oh aye no Marcus Price

Marcus Price that was (interruption) (unclear) Newbridge Street

and I went in there that's on (interruption) Newbridge Street aye

(unclear)

and I went in there and it was a light blue and the trend then was you had to have (pause) the brightest lining you could get (pause) it had to be really bright this lining never mind what colour your suit was

(laughter)

so they had this great thing with the link button you know

aye

and I

and the big droopy shoulders

aye and I got (pause) ice blue lining

mm

and I was so proud of this you know this suit (pause) I still had it actually when I met wor lass you know f (laughter) fifteen years later you know and then she slung it like but then after that (pause) was probably the best style there was which was the Italian style

the Manila cut

the short one and then the colours for that (interruption) (unclear)

and and the haircut that went with it

oh no

oh did you not get that haircut (interruption) oh

I never went in for that haircut

I didn't like my brother did oh dear me

but the colour for your Italian (interruption) suit was scarlet

(unclear) aye I thought he'd eh I thought it was he'd getten a suit that was shrunk you know I thought he'd ha ha had it washed and it shrunk

aye

he come in he eh paid a lot of stuff eh was it m was it milium li milium milium lining or something

aye

(unclear) he come in I says 'what's the matter with you' it had the cuffs were up above there

that's right

they were cut away at the back and they had two buttons on

aye

and it was like

jacket (interruption) come to there

short jacket

aye

and it looked tight on here

aye

and he had this haircut I says to him 'what's the matter with you are you bad' (laughter)

oh aye eeh they were superb (interruption) (unclear)

they looked terrible

actually I've still got a photo of that

terrible and I says (unclear)

(unclear)

and my other brother was as different again (NAME) he had the zoot suit

aye

the (unclear) pockets

aye

and the red and yel eh was it deep blue red like the yankee colour

(unclear) aye

you know the yankee colours

aye

geet big tie geet big kipper tie and the and the the D A (pause) and the other time (unclear) the boston string little black boston string

oh aye I had one of them aye

(unclear)

but when you think about (interruption) it (unclear)

(unclear) never had wore any of them

they're not so different to us you know I mean it's only that (pause) the gear that you get now

costs a fortune

is a lot more expensive

costs a fortune

I mean you've got to have an American Express or a Gold Card or something like that

phew

for to buy a jacket (interruption) now

or a gun (laughter)

or a gun but I mean we used to do exactly the same if you think about it

I didn't I tell you I never followed the trend

did you oh we did like of course

all I lived for was football

aye

I never bothered with women I never (interruption) (unclear)

oh (unclear) no y your motorbike

no no never had a motorbike till I went in the army

oh (unclear) I had

(unclear) did my nashy

I can remember my father getting wrong I had just getten my motorbike and my mother's was ganning to the shops to the stores you know the Co op and eh just off hand like (interruption) the cheque number was six eight six eight

(unclear) six double seven nothing nine ours

aye I knew (pause) must remember your cheque number because you didn't half get a good clip if you forgot that (pause) and eh when she had went away my father I says to my father 'oh it's gan to start to rain'

my bike'll shrink

so we carried the bike into the kitchen

(laughter)

oh and my mother didn't want much shopping you know (pause) because she didn't have much (pause) money left (laughter)

(laughter)

you know and when she come in and seen this bike a little one two five you know

aye

by didn't my father get six nowt for that because I naturally let him take the blame you know

oh that's right (laughter) (interruption) (unclear)

we're trying to get it through the door you know into the kitchen eeh I never lifted the carpet or nowt like that (pause) crazy (pause) but I mean eh (pause) you know (unclear) they were great weren't they

I think I think I think they were great because you were young

I did like

when you didn't seem to have t you didn't seem to have any worries

no but I mean you managed to get you managed to pay your mother (pause) gan out (pause) a couple or three nights a week all the and your wages were four pound fifteen

well when I started I was on one pound fifty a week as the present rate is

aye

and I worked a forty four hour week

mine was a sixty hour week

five and a half days serving his time

aye

at eh Swalwell apprentice painter I was getting one pound fifty thirty bob and the blokes were on half a crown an hour there and that was just after the war

aye uh-huh

the war was just finished the blokes were on half a crown an hour six pound a week wages

but I mean even (pause) well I was getting four pound fifteen (pause) I mean you give it to your mother (pause) and I was buying a bike and all you know (unclear) (pause) you borrowed it back

mm-hm

you know (pause) but I divn't know you just seemed to get through

well I was getting (interruption) five shilling

(unclear)

pocket money

of course there again I didn't smoke neither

at fourteen I didn't smoke

(unclear)

didn't bother with women didn't drink fourteen

you wouldn't buy (interruption) nowt for a lass anyway

fourteen year now they're fourteen year now they're they're fathers aren't they some of them half of them was father

oh aye

fathers at fourteen

aye

but I had five shilling a week pocket money and I still had money on a Monday morning

aye

but I didn't get paid till Friday night like you know

aye

(laughter)

oh aye I know

(unclear) you got paid on a Friday night (laughter) but eh I just I used to gan (unclear) the pictures I think it was like I say nine pence it was that was big (unclear)

aye

(unclear) nine pence down the Gaiety

aye that's right

lord lord and got nowt

aye

and we used to gan to the eh (pause) the wrestling

oh aye Saint James's

Saint James's used to gan to the wrestling that was great that

aye that was great aye we used to gan there

come out there and gan to the fish shop and the fish shops used to shut

aye

(unclear) half past ten was the latest

that's right aye

and the big thing in the town then remember Fuller's Cafe opposite Central Station

that's right aye

that was the only nightclub in Newcastle

aye aye

(laughter) the only cafe that (unclear) all it was I don't know if you know about it it was a eh excuse me

I bet that's for me (pause) but I mean we (unclear) used to have you know like these coffee

mm

shops there was a one in ehm (pause) in Gosforth where (NAME) and I the wife that in fact that's where I met her in there and eh (pause) you would gan in there and have two cups of coffee (pause) it was like a bikers' caff

mm

you just used to gan over there just to give your bike a show you know ehm (pause) but the older the bike (pause) the more people appreciated it like the bike I had was (unclear) ehm a nineteen fifty one Vincent (interruption) (unclear)

excuse me you've got to ring your mate before quarter past nine at the golf club because there's a change of (pause) programme for tomorrow

oh (unclear)

so how are we (unclear) running for time

okay got a bit longer yet if you (interruption) (unclear)

quarter past nine

quarter past nine you've got to ring before quarter past nine so if you wanted to go and ring come back (unclear)

a at the club

she just says he's he's been on twice

mm (pause) yeah anyway at the toddle like the older the bike the more you were appreciated you know and I think in our crew (pause) bikes were just like the main thing you know and then you went on like later on to cars I mean the next car I had I think was a eh nineteen forty one Austin (pause) XWD and that was good one because it was an open top actually it was a (pause) it was a convertible

mm

but I I opened (unclear) roof once (pause) and then that was it it just fell to pieces you know

(laughter)

(laughter)

and I I tried (pause) and I tried doing it up you know with a bit of your mastic paint that didn't help much

(unclear)

you know when it just when you closed it up it just all broke away (unclear)

(laughter)

and eh (pause) but there was just always something to do there was King's College (pause) the King's Club they had a place there where you could gan down and there was eh and this is all in one big room there was draughts (pause) eh (pause) dominoes there was all sorts painting (pause) (interruption) chess

was this like a Play Centre w when yous (interruption) (unclear)

aye a little bit grown up this was when I was about (pause) ehm (pause) about s (pause) seventeen or something like that

mm-hm

you know but it was at King's College

mm-hm

it was called the King's Club it was in (pause) Leazes (pause) you know the Leazes ehm (pause) houses of residence

yeah

it was in (interruption) there

halls of residence (unclear) (unclear)

aye the halls of residence (pause) when they were nice

mm-hm (interruption) lads used to play football

and eh aye

and cricket

but they were good there was stacks of places to go

mm

I mean here (pause) the young ones'd tend to be limited (unclear) (interruption) you know

the only thing is (unclear)

they can not really

eh there wasn't a nightlife when we were youngsters

no because you weren't allowed out

no I'm talking about I'm talking about when you up got up to the age of eighteen eh I mean the dance halls I think the dance hall was finished eleven o'clock that was the latest thing (interruption) (unclear)

aye yeah

the pubs used to shut at ten o'clock

that's right

there was no nightclubs in Newcastle

no no

there was no nightlife after th there was no cafes open in Newcastle

(interruption) (unclear)

the (unclear) I was telling you about was the Fuller's (pause) that was the

aye

that was the big place in Newcastle there was this Fuller's it was good the length of that there (pause) and all it was was like a shed

aye

open shed and you used to get cups of hot (pause) Bovril I think that was the thing and a pie

aye

and all the lowest form of nightlife and all the ladies of the streets (pause) used to parade their talents around there (interruption) in Pink Lane (unclear) Pink Lane

aye that's Pink Lane that's right aye

and that was the nightlife in Newcastle

aye

when I was a kid not that I went there but I just I knew (interruption) of it

aye

you see I mean you used to (pause) you used to hear the big lads talking 'oh I'm ganning out to Fuller's' I couldn't (unclear)

aye

ganning out to Fuller's for a cup of cof cup of eh Oxo (interruption) (unclear)

you know what Oxo was aye

it was just the the plastic type cups then and that was the big thing down there and of course when I got older I'd I knew about this so we'd all gan down there to Fuller's and see what what all the crack is (pause) went down there and I thought oh standing here freezing (laughter)

aye (interruption) (unclear)

you stand there freezing looking to see what's happening because they were always telling you (pause) tales about you saw the bloke getting (pause) pulled up by the cops and you saw this bloke (interruption) (unclear)

aye aye

and they were telling you all these stories and when I went (unclear) I was standing

aye

I was it was freezing

aye

(unclear) (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) all the time

and it was terrible stuff (unclear) absolutely hideous

aye

and and I didn't fancy the the looked and I saw the all these blokes (unclear) pies and (pause) (unclear) (unclear)

aye

and these ladies (unclear) (interruption) (unclear)

we used to gan down there like when we were young

aye

just to see these (pause) women of ill repute you know just to see what they look like you know the curiosity you'd heard (pause) all the grown ups talking about the these things and this that and the other and like (NAME) says you know (pause) all the time your little ears were listening you know and (pause) you had to gan and have a look

aye

you know knowing fine well if you ever got caught

(laughter)

it was going to be the biggest scudding of your life like

(laughter) did you ever gan down the quayside on a Sunday morning

oh aye

to see the bloke

quays

tying the chains

aye and the chains and that

(unclear) many a time he (laughter) got tied up and he couldn't get out

aye but that was aye I know when he was full of the drink

aye

that was the whole family went didn't it

yeah

you all went down (interruption) there

oh aye Sunday morning was good entertainment

but ehm (pause) because I mean the Sunday dinner was well but the Sunday dinner was your main

aye (interruption) after your father came out the bar

(unclear) of the week wasn't it when your father come in

aye

it was the main thing that like your Sunday dinner I mean everybody lived for the Sunday dinner you know but it (pause) because the rest of the week which is something (pause) that I don't think many (pause) young ones can do now is to make (pause) three days' meals after the Sunday from the left overs

mm-hm

ehm

and fry ups

your mother (pause) well she a loaf of bread (pause) eh milk pudding

mm-hm

they never threw if there was a couple of slices left

(unclear)

that were eh

(unclear)

that were getting past it and your (unclear) and you had just getten another loaf of bread that week you know (pause) it went into the pot and they made this bread boily you know

that's it you used to (interruption) hoy a few currants in

(unclear) bread boily aye it oh aye currants if you could get them like but bread boily I I must have eaten (pause) twenty ton of that like

(laughter)

y it had to be but it was all it was was eh (pause) bread hot water and the m and the milk powder remember that powder

mm-hm aye National Dried Milk

aye and a bit of sugar and (pause) I think I was still eating that when I was twenty one (laughter)

(laughter)

but bread boily eh dripping and bread now dripping and bread was a meal

mm

mm-hm

I mean now

that's right (interruption) it's bad for your health

eh you (unclear) diet

it's bad for your health well now (unclear) tell you all these things that's bad for your health

everything's bad for your health

aye aye

it hasn't done us bad

no

ye've just been playing football up to the last year

mm-hm

I mean that can not you can not be bad

mm

if you're playing football at your age (pause) a year ago (pause) ehm

(unclear)

but it it's it's the same as smoking I've been smoking since I was a young one (pause) I mean I I divn't know what my insides are like but I'm still ganning on I mean my mother (pause) and my father and I mean they didn't have tipped cigarettes

aye the woodbines (interruption) (unclear) first time

uh-huh the old woodbines I mean that was the real stuff and they're still knocking about at eighty years old

mm

so it can not be everything (pause) you know well I mean getting back to the grub stakes they could the mothers could make anything out of anything

mm

you know just (pause) an old pie turned into to a banquet anyway by the time (interruption) we were finished with it

(laughter) rabbit (interruption) rabbit was a great thing

rabbit rabbit now there's

aye

oh aye

poor man's pheasant

that was a

that was great that

beautiful (unclear) my father my mother used to make rabbit

humpity back pie (interruption) we used to call it

for my father aye

humpity back pie (interruption) (unclear) in the middle

that was his that was his treat that

aye great that

you know if he got a bit of overtime in you know

great

and then eh (pause) once he'd got into the post when he was a postman he used to do all the outly the Cheviots you know he used to come in with a rabbit and that you know off the farmers

mm

because what the farmers used to do was (pause) ehm if they wanted a letter posted (pause) they used to put a little ehm envelope in a window you know because in the deep snow it saved the postman walking right up to the house you know

mm

if there wasn't an envelope there he didn't have to walk up the big drive or across the fields you know but then he used to get ehm (pause) taties and that if the farmers came into town you know to the cattle market (unclear) used to drop him a little bag of taties off (pause) and some veg (pause) all sorts but it was all like that wasn't it ehm (pause) if you did (pause) you know if you worked on push bikes (pause) you would fix a puncture for I would fix a puncture for (NAME)

mm

(NAME) was his painter you know and you had getten some paint

(laughter)

(laughter) (unclear) somewhere (laughter) you know he would do a little bit of painting or (pause) it was all like that wasn't it

yeah I think that was great comradeship (interruption) (unclear)

it used to be all like bartering

in those days well of course things were a lot well when I was particularly when I was a kid things were very hard

(unclear)

there was a means test for people who didn't have jobs (unclear)

that's right aye aye

there was soup kitchens

aye

eh

well they've just opened them again you know (interruption) just to show you

there was the b there was the barefoot days when I was a kid

(unclear) uh-huh

kids running round the streets with no shoes on

aye

a lot of people out of work then you know

I mean my brother complained for years (pause) why he always got my seconds (pause) you know

mm-hm

but he was forty two at the time (unclear) (laughter)

(laughter) there was a lot of hand me downs went around in them days

aye

have we any more angles we need to look on

well I I must eh you must excuse me

oh right (unclear)

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

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

mm-hm