and during that I eh went to work in a factory an engineering factory

which one was that (interruption) (unclear)

and that was the North East Marine in Wallsend trained there to be an engineer and I was there I'm going to jump a few years now (unclear) but I was there till I was thirty three then I went into the insurance business after that

(unclear) big change

but eh (pause) during that time before you know eh before I left there and on the sort of teenage years I I got involved in the (pause) local dance bands and dance music you know being a drummer a semi pro capacity and eh we just went on from there and ehm (pause) I got married met (NAME) married (NAME) when I was twenty three I I then left Wallsend and lived in eh Saint Anthony's area for a few year then we we moved eh to Longbenton

mm-hm

eh and then (NAME) was born our son we lived there quite happily for quite a number of years and then decided we'd like to (pause) go into buy our own house then we moved up to Chapel House ehm buying a bungalow there (pause) and we were there quite a few years (pause) eh during which ehm I continued in the insurance business then so eh

that's probably where (NAME) got it from (interruption) (unclear) insurance (unclear) when you sort of

yes yeah that's right because he he he left eh there and then he went up to eh Walbottle Grammar School left at about sixteen and a half and he started with the firm that he is orig he was originally then with the (interruption) Scottish Widows

that's really when I met you because

yeah

(NAME) and (NAME) had been going (interruption) around even at school they were going (unclear)

(unclear) they met at school didn't they

(unclear) like (interruption) childhood sweethearts (unclear)

mm-hm mm-hm yeah (unclear)

well mine was a different type of life altogether I I was born nineteen twenty three in Scotswood

aye

eh a real poor area of Scotswood in those days I don't remember much about it because when I was (unclear) probably four or five we left there and went to Heaton I don't know much about about it was a school called Heaton Park Road I I think it's still there actually ehm we lived in Hotspur Street

yeah (interruption) (unclear)

but I I do remember Hotspur Street ran onto the tip there was a big Byker tip in those days and

mm-hm mm-hm

it was really a big hole in the ground and all the rubbish from all surrounding districts of Newcastle used to

mm-hm mm-hm

put the rubbish in the tip

mm-hm mm-hm

and the street I lived in (unclear) was only a matter of what probably five hundred yards from the from the tip and that's what I remember mostly about it and to get to the town we had to walk across down Hotspur Street onto Warwick Street which is still there

yeah Warwick Street (interruption) aye yeah aye

the buses are using it cross over eh there's now a modern road there

mm-hm

cross over into Shieldfield

yeah

but it's quite different to your Post Office

yes yes (interruption) yes yes yes

where you had the Post Office in Shieldfield (unclear) I never dreamt that one day I would have a shop myself

yeah yeah (unclear)

a carpet store in Shieldfield you know

(unclear)

so it's it's changed

mm mm

and we used to have to walk across there to get into the town (unclear) was in Heaton until I was about eh ten and then it's funny how how families sort of

mm

stick to an area my father was born and lived in a place called Spital Tongues (unclear) everybody knows about it that's

mm mm

a Geordie and went to s live in Spital Tongues

mm-hm

and it was there that ehm (unclear) the best move we ever made really because

mm

it was like moving into the country in those days

mm-hm

Spital Tongues was we called it the village

mm-hm

now it's it's e e

yeah

encompassed by other other houses and eh there was only the barracks

yeah

used to be Fenham Barracks

I remember it's funny things turned full circle because (NAME) eh was born and lived in Shieldfield

oh that's (interruption) right aye

and that was her life until they eh you know due to housing developments moved down into the the Saint Anthony's area and then after (unclear) you know (unclear) different jobs I landed up and bought a Post Office in Shieldfield

aye you see it's (interruption) funny (unclear)

eh and when I remember when we went there the eh the entrance to it there was still then there was a little chemist shop butchers and one or two of the older buildings still there eh which prior to that they had built on Shieldfield

were the flats up then

yes yes the high rise were there then

what year was that then (NAME)

well I let me think I went back I was there sixteen seventeen years been retired four so that's like what twenty one year ago so that would be what about in the seventies seventy five or something I went down there

and had they just been built then

they'd been up a few year but there was still development then because once they pulled those houses down (pause) ehm I thought (unclear) they did build houses on the right had side there but what they did do in (unclear) place they built the ehm there was a an old peoples' home there now and then (interruption) of course (unclear)

aye I've seen that's right

the old the old Shieldfield Club I think it's well it is still there

(unclear)

but I think they seemed to modernize it and build on it and then build above

yes

(unclear) prior to that I had never had eh any dealings with Shieldfield at all but eh it's it's very central for the people that live there in as much as eh (interruption) you know

you know it's mostly as I say there's only those four or five shops there now but when I I remember Shieldfield (pause) I used to come as I say across the the tip eh which was there was a proper road (interruption) you know

(unclear)

I wasn't just walking across a tip there was a proper road across

yeah

between Heaton and Shieldfield and my mother I can remember my mother getting her dresses made in a dress maker in Shieldfield so they had all sorts of shops you know

yeah

she used to get

oh yeah yeah

(unclear) get her dresses made by this I can't remember (interruption) the name of the shop now

(NAME) often she talks about that ehm

aye (interruption) (unclear)

one of the shops there was a a a ladies like drapery shop

yeah the only people who seem to get dresses made now are

(unclear)

are these people if they're going to (unclear)

oh aye (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) fashion people but (laughter) this was you know she probably got them (unclear) how much they cost

yeah (unclear)

but they wouldn't cost very much

no no

eh so it was it it's (interruption) amazing

trying to think (NAME) did mention the name of a shop there but how it's changed in as much as eh what there one two I think there's two three big motor traders there now

that's right well Nissan are there (interruption) (unclear)

Warwick Street (unclear) Shieldfield there's n a Nissan dealer there's Honda

oh there's a few (interruption) (unclear)

and eh and then it's (unclear) what (unclear) closed since eh that was the the ehm the building contractors moved out there remember there was a big one there as well

aye (interruption) I c

eh

aye I can't remember (unclear) name my memory's gone really

aye I forget what they're c anyway that was moved and eh they built houses on the ground eh (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) I never (interruption) thought it would ever happen because they used to s

no no (unclear)

all sorts of stuff (unclear) in there

yeah

and then of course they built that new bridge because there's only old Byker bridge at one time

(interruption) yes yeah yeah yeah yeah

and then they built the rail bridge didn't they and and the new railway bridge

yeah yeah yeah

so that's that's all happened

the old black (unclear)

mm-hm (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) gone and then the g the The Grand in Byker

yeah

remember all them

(unclear) I remember seeing eh (pause) Winifred Atwell

(unclear)

playing the piano at The Grand

did you

eh Byker (unclear) how many years ago that is

mm yeah

ehm after we went to Spital Tongues as I say (unclear) was my father's family lived there and it's right ne next to Newcastle ehm (pause) town moor

mm

it was ideal because my father played played golf in the eh in the Newcastle United Golf Club as it was known then and it was in the eh the windmill the windmill on Claremont Road and at (interruption) that time

oh (unclear) yeah

eh they did even had the wings on the on the (interruption) windmill you know

aye (unclear)

now it's just got the I think that it's a private residence now (interruption) but it's just got the

mm mm mm

the eh the shape of the

mm mm

the main the main building without the wings (unclear) was great I mean they had two billiard tables and a I'm talking about what oh nineteen thirty (pause) five thirty (interruption) six

mm mm

and eh the the but all the golf course Newcastle United golf course in those days was all on the town moor

mm-hm

there (unclear) ehm

mm

eh well not not all on the town moor really there was let's see there was ehm the first second third and the sixteenth seventeenth and eighteenth were on the town moor and the other holes were on the Kenton moor

mm-hm

but the on the the ones on the town moor surrounded a an isolation hospital do you remember that isolation hospital that stood in the middle of the town moor

yeah mm (interruption) (unclear)

well that's th th th they built the well they (interruption) (unclear)

and is that still part of it that still on near the c the past the Cowgate roundabout as you come onto the new motorway that's still part of that Newcastle golf club that (interruption) (unclear)

no well it's now it's now all at all on the Cowgate moor (interruption) you know

aye yeah

and they've moved the golf club as well

yeah yeah yeah

but eh

(unclear)

oh (interruption) (unclear)

I remember when you used to come out of Shieldfield you used to walk (unclear) walking towards the town (unclear) had all the the the big Rover car dealer on the left the ol the Olympia cinema

yes (interruption) aye yes

used to be there

and the pala and the eh Pavilion

Pavilion (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) the Pavilion

yeah yeah yeah

I can remember also there used to be a a Hippodrome (interruption) do you remember the Hippodrome

(unclear) Hippodrome yeah yeah

because I can remember mother and father saying that they went to see Gracie Fields there

aye aye (unclear)

that's a lot of years ago

yes yes I remember aye

so there was three three cinemas in (interruption) on on north that's on Northumberland Road

(interruption) been some big changes (interruption) very big changes

where Northumberland Road is now

yes (interruption) (unclear)

eh and the British Homestores

mm-hm mm-hm

almost on the site of the eh

yeah

the Pavilion (interruption) (unclear)

yeah and the old Queen's cinema where they've got shops there now

oh aye (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) successful by all accounts (interruption) (unclear)

that's off Northumberland Street

changes made (unclear) the big library (unclear)

yes (interruption) oh well that's (unclear) library

(unclear) the old Empire ci theatre (unclear) all the big names

(unclear) (interruption) n Newgate Street

used to go and see the see the big bands and then go to the Oxford on a Friday night after they finished and play there till one

yeah a after when I was ehm when I I w I went to a I went to Ackie Road Tech and this is interesting I I lived in Spital Tongues and trolley buses had just started then

mm

so I was about twelve

mm-hm

and I was born in nineteen twenty three and I remember walking to school having gone to the Ackie Road Tech from Spital Tongues up Brighton Grove eh (pause) up Milvain Avenue onto Westgate Road along Westgate Road down Condercum Road

mm-hm

across Elswick Road down Armstrong down Atki down Armstrong Road to (interruption) Atkinson Road

(unclear) Atkinson Road

used to take us about an hour

yeah

walking to school

yeah

I could have got a bus but it would have meant going into the town

(unclear) Atkinson Road school

and back out again

(unclear)

yes

I used to (interruption) I used to collect there when I was in insurance (unclear)

can you imagine the at twelve can you imagine letting the kids (interruption) out now

yeah yeah

at the mothers won't allow their kid

no no

walk any distance (interruption) (unclear)

I used to go to the Western School on Wallsend used to walk there come home for lunch back and then back home (unclear) take a sandwich (unclear) used to come home each day

I can remember taking

cross the high street (interruption) (unclear)

even in those days taking a t tin of beans or or a pie

(unclear)

because there wasn't any facilities for food

no

we had a

oh no they didn't have it

a gas cooker

(unclear)

and the kids that like me who came a long distance t to get to the school had to take our turn on the (interruption) gas cooker to eh

mm mm-hm (unclear)

eh have a meal

(unclear)

and the periods it was it's (unclear) I still the the the head master was a bloke called we used to call him Pa (NAME) his (unclear) was Mr (NAME)

mm

big fine fellow

(unclear)

and eh the the school was a it sort of had a veranda around and

(unclear)

each each period you have to had to walk to

mm-hm

each a different subject

yeah

which was quite new to me

yeah (interruption) (unclear)

having gone to Todds Nook

mm-hm (interruption) (unclear)

which is still (unclear) also still there

yeah aye

to get to Todds Nook from Spital Tongues we had to walk we were allowed to walk through the barracks

Fenham Barracks

which was occupied by soldiers in those (interruption) days

yeah yeah (unclear) yeah (interruption) (unclear)

it was a quick you know it

(unclear)

cut off what probably quarter of an hour off the journey

yeah yeah

that was from Spital Tongues to (interruption) (unclear)

which incidentally they're building on that now eh Fenham Barracks aren't they they're eh as I understand I think it's student accommodation (interruption) (unclear)

oh aye well that big eh

and then of course you've got the BBC up there now (interruption) on the corner

BBC's on the corner that's that's right

and then the BMW dealership ehm

the BMW's there as well

yes yes yes there's been some big changes in town

oh aye (unclear)

quite a lot (pause) quite a lot

(unclear)

remember when (unclear) used to go to the dances well it's still there the old Assembly Rooms but there's eh not so many

no not (interruption) (unclear)

private (unclear) (unclear) there is a few but not a lot there's (interruption) in the old days (unclear) to go to the eh

(unclear) in those days we used to go to the Oxford Galleries

used to (unclear) the Oxford used to (pause) the County Hotel

yeah

eh (unclear) then there was the the old Douglas Hotel which as far as I gather it's eh accommodation now as well

(unclear)

(unclear) that was the days when all the staff dancing and the firms' dos were there

yes

(unclear)

well (NAME) and I had our our wedding in the gra The Grand

mm-hm

which was on Grainger Street it's just a f there's just a facade there now (unclear)

mm-hm

the eh the back is those flats you know be beside the behind the (unclear)

oh yes (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) used to be The Grand Hotel (interruption) (unclear) remember

yes oh yes yes (unclear)

that's where we eh had our reception

(unclear) yeah there's an awful lot concentrated on the centre of the city now though (unclear) you know

(unclear)

it's very good and and all that but I think eh other parts of the town have suffered as a result of that (unclear)

yeah well I quite like the old buildings I must (interruption) say

uh-huh oh yeah

I used to like I like wandering down Grey Street eh they're keeping (unclear) Blackett Street it's still

mm

still nice the the front there and that's a lovely arcade

mm-hm

it's hardly used you know (interruption) (unclear)

beautiful it is

it's surprising (interruption) (unclear)

very rare isn't it very rare (interruption) isn't it

aye I I've wandered through a couple of times but i it doesn't seem to be have taken off does it

no no (interruption) no

I wouldn't like to have a shop there because

no

they they don't seem to be doing any business

no (pause) no the the whole thing's centred strangely really when you think of it it's centred on on one street Northumberland Street really

yeah (interruption) yes it is

(unclear)

Marks and Spencer's and (unclear) Fenwick's (interruption) yeah

like you say one time (unclear) all the way along the right through the town and all the shops Grainger Street Percy Street down into Clayton Street you could come right round the whole area but now it

yeah

very nice as Eldon (pause) s Square is it's very nice (unclear)

yeah

I'd still just to like to walk you know (unclear) the town and the days when they used to when the match came out

oh aye

you know in the days of Milburn (unclear) for thirty forty fifty thousand coming out

(laughter)

at a time then

(unclear)

(unclear) used to work on Percy Street in them days and I used to meet her when she came out on a Saturday about well five to six well (unclear) and you'd see the match coming out (unclear) thousand (interruption) (unclear)

I used to go regularly in those days from about you know nineteen in the nineteen fifties anyway when

yeah

Jackie and

aye aye

and they won the cup two or three times

(unclear)

(unclear) kids like the kids do today when they've got a good team

mm

it was smashing

yes

after I ehm left school as I say we weren't well off so I I eh should have l left done another year but I I eh my father thought well he was a French polisher so

mm-hm

he thought that getting a trade was the main thing

(unclear)

'you must get a trade' he said so I tried the top furnishing houses in the town which were in those days Robson's and W E Harker I eventually got fixed up at W E Harker

mm

as an upholsterer and I hated (interruption) every minute of it

(unclear)

oh teasing mattresses (pause) I I don't kn I don't know how people don't realize now we used to get in Harker's we used to get mattresses in from people the the mattress the hair was absolutely (interruption) solid

(unclear) horse hair in them days (interruption) (unclear) course (unclear)

horse hair and we I used to have to pull it apart and as you pulled it apart the dust used to

oh

(unclear) you could actually see the dust

yeah aye

and f from there I used to put it in the teasing machine and the teasing machine was on the top floor of Harker's on Grainger Street

mm-hm

in the eaves it was really

(unclear)

y you know in in the top you couldn't get any higher and I used to hate it the blokes used to come up when I was putting it in the machine (unclear) was going like the clappers and they they used to shout 'boo' and what with the noise it used to frighten me to death

mm-hm mm-hm

it really did (interruption) I ha I hated it

yeah a really unhealthy job that as well

and it's a a terrible thing to say but when the war came along there was myself in the upholstery that's the upholstery apprentice a lad called another (NAME) called ehm eh he was the (pause) joinery apprentice and (NAME) the sales (interruption) one

(unclear)

one of the sales sales apprentices we were all round about seventeen eighteen we all went down to jubilee schools we were definitely going to join the Air Force

mm-hm

this is how crazy it is

mm

we went in to the (unclear) recruiting office I said I'm going to the Air Force straight away I want to fly I didn't think I would be able to but I thought that's what I (unclear) to do and the other two lads just changed their minds completely

(unclear)

said I'm going they went (unclear) the Navy (laughter)

(laughter)

this was about oh probably I must have been about eighteen soon as I was eighteen and they were away by the December and I was still stuck (laughter)

(laughter)

I was put on deferred service (interruption) you know

aye yeah

and they were in the Navy by oh certainly the Christmas

mm mm mm

and I was still stuck and I didn't go away until ehm oh eventually about nine months after I (interruption) had enlisted (unclear)

mm mm mm-hm

ehm and then eh during during the war I was in the war until about nineteen forty five

mm-hm

and I was lucky really because ehm (pause) I was able to do I became a Warrant Officer as you know one thing I can mention about about it in the eh I don't know whether this is the sort of thing that's needs to be talked about but anyway here we are I went in (unclear) as a wireless operator

mm

I don't think I've told you this before (NAME) and eh in this intake there was about a hundred and eighty men or young lads and we took this course and I was eighth top in the intake I've said telling you this to give you some (interruption) idea of what the

mm mm mm

(unclear) what things were like and you might think it's irrelevant and I was told that up up to twenty

mm-hm

got an interview for a commission

mm

well I was pretty raw

mm-hm mm-hm

even as I am now but I thought well eighth top and I'm

mm-hm yeah

good enough to get that position so I went (unclear) in front of eh three chaps there was two Wing Gunners and a a Group Captain and I can remember to this day it's stuck with me one of the first things they said to me they said eh ehm 'do you play squash'

(unclear)

to tell you the truth I had never I didn't h I hadn't even heard of squash

no no

'do you play rugger'

mm-hm

well I had (interruption) heard of it but

mm mm mm

eh a vital question which I've learnt in later life 'what paper do you take'

yeah (unclear)

and another question 'what does your father do'

(unclear)

now what that had to do

yeah

with doing the job (interruption) as wireless operating I just don't know (interruption)

(interruption) (unclear) (interruption) no relevance at all

but the other two qu another two questions they asked me (NAME) (unclear) 'what wine do you take with fowl'

(unclear)

I didn't even know (interruption) that you took f a different wine

(unclear) yeah

and I didn't even know about wine for that matter

(unclear)

'what wine do you take with fish' was the (interruption) other question

yeah yeah (unclear)

you know

it's funny I I was you know as I said I

(unclear)

when the war sort of I was you know twelve (unclear) for about what eighteen month I went and worked in the barber's (laughter) just a as as a kid then I got my opportunity to go and s go into the factory and learn you know learn to learn my trade but during that time I was talking to eh one of the fellows (unclear) he had a similar story to yours regarding the army friend of his his son had eh gone he wanted to go in for a commission questions weren't the same but the principle was the same

aye

and one of the questions that came to him 'do you ride a horse' (interruption) (unclear)

aye (laughter)

so

yes the same (interruption) sort of thing

(unclear) the background what they're after is the background

aye

(unclear) you know (unclear)

well you see I think it's changed now I hope (interruption) so but eh

(unclear) I would imagine (interruption) I would think it would be you know

you know it's eh it's it's crazy really

oh yeah yeah yeah (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) as I I say I I it's wrong to say and now I'm almost a pacifist because you know I (interruption) I don't believe in wars anyway

(unclear) no

but it as far as the war was concerned I went on as you know and I became Warrant Officer flying

mm

I did a a a tour in in lanc on Lancasters

mm-hm

and then once again I was sent to eh after the tour was finished I was put on transport command and I was going to Australia

mm-hm (unclear)

but just as we were going over the the Japanese war finished so (interruption) we had a great time

oh

you know (laughter) couldn't have been better

yeah yeah

flying up to Hong Kong and back with no no problems

(unclear)

(unclear) (laughter) then we when we finished after eight months I eh I eh we flew there was four of us the pilot the navigator eh s eh (pause) eh second pilot and myself eh we flew the Dakota

mm-hm

all the way back from Australia (unclear) more or less our own time took about five or six days to come back great so you know it (interruption) it ended pretty good as well (laughter)

(unclear) long time long time yeah yeah yeah

then when I went back I didn't become an upholsterer I'll tell you (interruption) (unclear)

(laughter)

I went back to eh carpets

yeah yeah

which were just coming into being then really

mm-hm mm-hm

very few people had fitted carpets very few normal people had fitted carpets in those days

oh not many (pause) (interruption) not many

I'm talking about nineteen forty six

mm

ehm they were mostly carpet squares eh but Harker's were one of the probably four people that sold fitted carpets in (interruption) Newcastle

(unclear)

there was Robson's as I say

mm

Harker's maybe Bainbridge's and probably two or three that I don't (interruption) know about but they were the top people and

mm-hm mm-hm yeah oh aye (unclear) used to have a a nice centre carpet in those days (interruption) (unclear)

that's right

(unclear) buy carpets for the surrounds (unclear) now

yeah (unclear) for the (interruption) surround or just wood

surround aye it's all wall to wall now isn't it

oh aye

which is a good thing it's a better thing really

so I went back to Harker's but I changed the

(unclear)

the venue because upholstery upholsterers in those days used to do carpets (interruption) floor coverings

mm

curtains that was all part of the (interruption) upholstery trade

mm mm-hm mm-hm

but I sort of (pause) stayed in carpets and I made a living for it all the rest of my life

mm-hm yeah well I (unclear) what one two I've only had three jobs as I say I served my apprenticeship (pause) I got out of that at thirty two thirty three went into insurance and I was in that for about fifteen sixteen years I finished up as an inspector and then I (pause) decided that eh (pause) I would like I didn't want to finish the rest of my sort of time in that so I went into the Post Office and as I say (unclear) went into Shieldfield you know I was there right up until I (interruption) retired

(unclear)

there's no regrets really

no (unclear) everyone knew you there and you were respected there (interruption) (unclear)

yeah yeah yeah (interruption) (unclear)

and having the shop next door I know

(unclear)

but ehm (pause) anyway to change the subject have you did you when were you at (NAME)'s last

we were there (pause) for what two or three weeks ago

uh-huh

(unclear) in Edinburgh they've settled quite well up there haven't they

oh aye smashing

they have (NAME)'s eh went back to his original firm that I mentioned earlier in our conversation he he was with them a few year didn't then he he moved around a bit

mm-hm

went to totally different firms then he's went back there now he's been back what five five and a half year up there

aye he likes it up there (unclear) (interruption) Edinburgh

about five and a half year up there and they're quite settled nice house nice area and the kids are coming on well

they're coming down aren't they

uh-huh yeah well we're going up this Friday and then they're coming back with us (interruption) the following week

the kids are coming back

for a week yeah

uh-huh

they started their summer holidays on Monday

this sum they've just they've started have they

mm-hm mm-hm

oh I didn't know that

I think eh (NAME)'s off this week (interruption) and

I see so (unclear) to sort of share in the holidays

yeah yeah we (unclear) we bring then down a week and then (NAME) and (NAME) are coming down to take them back and I think (NAME)'s off for a week and I think you and (NAME) (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) aye (interruption) (NAME)'s got it all sorted out yeah

yeah yeah (unclear) they've had their holidays early this year they went to America ehm but I think I think they're going to they're going to have a another week in October

are the kids going with them or

I think so (interruption) (unclear)

oh they're taking them because they were talking about not taking them weren't they aye

but eh it's far fl a bit far flung from (laughter) when we used to have our holidays as kids (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) right I remember going to a (unclear) I went to a caravan at Cresswell it wasn't a caravan really it was a a pas ehm a train you know one of the eh carriage

yeah

like a a train c a railway carriage

uh-huh uh-huh

that was parked up at Cresswell

oh yeah mm

my father didn't go he he was (laughter) working for French polishing (unclear) (interruption) just my mother and I (unclear) abandoned (unclear) her apparently

yeah (unclear) yeah I remember you only got a week when we were

that's right a week

young you got a week's holiday

aye

(unclear) yeah

yes it's a far cry but

mm

you see I think what's tending to happen there's probably people still doing the same sort of thing (NAME) but we've been (interruption) lucky you know and we've moved on

mm mm-hm yeah yeah (interruption) (unclear)

you know there's probably still people who can't have a week's holiday

yeah

I'm sure there is

yeah yeah

you know when you hear a when you read the papers and you see some of these

oh

things on television it's it's frightful isn't it

it is really (interruption) it is

(unclear) that little baby and the

it is

that kid in the kiddie at Hartlepool (interruption) (unclear)

things are happening well I suppose in years th they happened but not as much as they do today it's a case of ehm every time you switch the telly on every time you read a paper there's you know whether they seem to (pause) report the more unpleasant things more often than what they (interruption) (unclear)

well they could do but I'm sure (interruption) (unclear)

even so it's it's things happening that never did when we were young (interruption) (unclear)

I'm sure a three k a three year old kiddie or a four year old kiddie

(unclear)

going for a lolly or something like that would never have been molested as (interruption) (unclear) Hartlepool (unclear)

no no no well I mean in our when we were kids you could leave your front door open couldn't you

aye

you're mam and dad used to leave the front door open (interruption) (unclear)

that's right

you didn't you weren't afraid I mean the houses are alarmed on the outside they've got security lights outside you take your car anywhere you're you know (unclear) ehm

well I don't think I've been in the (interruption) town

you're a bit apprehensive about parking it anywhere in case it's damaged or broken into by the time you get back

I don't think I've been in the town not not particularly

(unclear)

I haven't particularly wanted to

(unclear)

but I haven't been in the town nor has (NAME)

no

oh I'm sure for what five or six years now

never (interruption) take (unclear) I always take the bus

(unclear) last time (unclear) went to the theatre that's all but even that you see

well I mean I remember (unclear) November remember we went to the the dinner Christmas dinner at eh Newbiggin Hall (unclear) (NAME) and (NAME) eh (NAME) and (unclear) and c half way through everybody was going out every f what fifteen minutes to keep an eye on the cars must have been about twenty cars there well I went out and I was rather suspicious of this lad standing at the top of the car park (unclear) he wasn't actually near any of the cars but I went back in and mentioned it to (NAME) and and (NAME) and we came out and sure enough when we went down the first four cars had all been done

mm

you know and and that was people the men folk popping out every fifteen minutes to keep an eye

yeah

and it was a night it was a winter night there was snow as well and so as far as we were concerned my car was next in line it would have been the next one to have been broken into

mm

had I decided to wait a few more minutes you know I'd already

yes

previously been out (unclear) pop out on my own just to have a look but eh

(NAME) next door to me (NAME) he was just telling me yesterday he went to t he went to Tesco in Kingston Park

mm-hm

now I when I go into Tesco I I usually go to the car park on the left which is the most popular

yes so do I

now he's an ex policeman but he says he always goes to the right because it's (interruption) quieter

mm mm-hm

he did so this day and

aye (interruption) it is quieter (unclear) yeah

parked his car and he says there was one or two of these big ehm eh excavators and things

yeah

in the place next door

mm-hm mm-hm

now I haven't been

mm

at that side so I don't know

mm-hm mm-hm

he went back and as he went back there was a Post Office van standing

mm

and this Post Office van and the chap (unclear) van was shouting 'what are you doing there' to

mm

and there was two young lads and they flew straight away you know

mm-hm mm-hm

and when (NAME) got up to his car they had two had two of the hub caps off Ford Ford Fiesta he says 'now what'

phew

'what do they do with those' but he's made some enquiries since

mm

and he says it costs about fifty or sixty quid for

oh it does

for for four Fiesta hub caps

yeah

and they had them two of them off ready

mm mm mm

they were just ge taking the other two off and they would have been away with them (interruption) that's in broad daylight

I was (unclear) (NAME) our postman he's got a a a new

crazy

cor Corsa isn't it Vauxhall Corsa and eh the the near side door it it's the great scratch with a nail and I just happened to remark (NAME) and I were going to the bus the other day and I said 'look there's (NAME)'s car' and when I seen him I said 'you know see they've been at your car' he said 'oh yes' he said eh also he says 'I've lost three sets of eh'

hub caps

'hub caps and discs' he said about fifty sixty quid a time (interruption) (unclear)

well where did he where d when was the mark when d when was that done

eh well his wife uses the car as well

oh I see (interruption) (unclear)

she does (unclear) part time collecting work and apparently one of the areas where she parks the car you know she came back just like they they'd sort of jabbed a nail (unclear) and dented the the the the car door and (unclear) just walked up with the screwdriver (interruption) (unclear)

and where was that

I'm not some some part of town I'm not sure I think he said Blakelaw or one of them areas you know (interruption) (unclear)

aye

(unclear) damaged it

(unclear)

well I remember do you remember (NAME) up the street here ehm

yeah

when (pause) (unclear) few year ago bought a new Capri sports wheels I was going to the that was one it was a Saturday morning and as I went up the street I noticed it was on f four sets of bricks and the wheels were gone

phew

they'd just left his car on four bricks

(laughter) incredible (interruption) (unclear)

aye aye and the reason the bricks were there for them to do that he'd been having a wall built along his garden and the builders were fini well they just left the bricks neatly stacked of course they weren't intended to be used for that purpose but

someone's checked up though beforehand (interruption) haven't they it's been (unclear) well and truly organized hasn't it

(unclear) eh oh yeah yeah yes well I think it's lot of you know it's just stolen to order

yes

somebody orders them they were a alloy wheels he told me he says 'oh they cost eight hundred quid to replace' you know (interruption) (unclear) alloy wheels

well I think I've told you at the golf club there the eh all the downstairs all the downstairs doors entrances and exits

mm-hm

are steel doors now

yeah yeah

there's not a wood door on any of the eh downstair

mm-hm

exits

yeah

costs a lot of money you know and it's (interruption) it's (unclear)

it does

because they were broke into six six

yeah

about six times in six (interruption) months (pause) (unclear)

mm-hm mm-hm well it's it's it's a trauma I remember what we were like when we were burgled you know it was eh fairly traumatic

(unclear)

but it's just eh (pause) I don't know (unclear) part of life today

yeah

you know if it's not your house it's your car or something like that

how's your (pause) treatment then are you

fine fine I was at the doctors eh last week and ehm (pause) keep taking the you know keep (interruption) taking the tablets

(unclear) the tablets (laughter)

(unclear) your fine but I feel I feel great you know it hasn't made much difference really I I to my lifestyle I find that ehm I've been (pause) what four it's over four year now since eh I was eh taken into hospital and ehm (pause) just take the tablets and

mm-hm

and live life steady and I find that I don't have any

don't abuse yourself (interruption) that's what they say yeah that's what they say (unclear)

none at all no no no watch your diet and (pause) (unclear) took up swimming and since I finished and eh I find I think that's quite eh I find it's relaxing and I enjoy it and eh I don't have any ill effect from it (interruption) either so

oh that's good I swam every day in the last fortnight you know

yeah

either in the sea or in the pool

mm-hm

but I was a bit disappointed with the pool (NAME)

mm-hm mm-hm

and did I tell you

no

the eh (pause) the pool was in the brochure it says it's an unusual shape it was an unusual shape all right it was sort of ehm ten y ten yards radius a quarter circle if you like

mm-hm

shaped like a fan you know

oh yeah yeah yeah

but there wasn't any shallow end really that

(unclear)

there was a shallow end but it dropped so quickly

(unclear)

(NAME) who can't swim very well

mm-hm

it was no use to her at all

it's unnerving I found that when we were with we were with (NAME) and (NAME) last year in (unclear) the pool there was the same it was slightly but the main sort of step into the pool

uh-huh

(unclear) straight up

yeah well (interruption) (NAME)'s frightened of swimming

I mean for all I can swim I don't dive in and (interruption) consequently

yeah (unclear)

I felt a bit insecure and there's one or two hotels we've been to in (interruption) different parts of Spain

but it's no good (unclear)

it's the one depth

that's right (interruption) (unclear) not quite but it's it's too deep

and anybody who's not used with diving in

mm-hm

and you go in well you know you're straight up to your chin straight away and I find it unnerves quite a few

well they h they had sent a letter to us saying that the indoor pool would be ready you remember we went on (interruption) the sixteenth

mm-hm mm-hm

and the the indoor pool will be ready on the twentieth

yeah

well it still wasn't ready when we left

no no

so it wasn't as if she could go into the indoor pool which was

no

obviously shallower

mm-hm mm-hm

ehm so she didn't eh I think she went in the the sea a couple of times that's all

yeah yeah yeah

must (interruption) (unclear)

and (unclear) you like it quite liked it eh (unclear) didn't you

oh it was (unclear) I liked it ehm and there's lots of historic eh things but (pause) (interruption) (unclear)

it's not like a Costa one of the Costa resorts (interruption) not like you'll find in (unclear)

oh no no I didn't like it as well as I did Los Cristianos (interruption) for instance you know

no no no no

but it it's it's nice it's eh it was a change you know so

mm

and the weather

mm-hm red hot

I never saw a cloud all the t

no

I mean people say this all the time when they go on holiday

mm mm

but I literally did not see a cloud

mm-hm

for a fortnight

mm-hm mm-hm

I never had any I had shorts on everyday apart at night for dinner

mm mm mm

I changed but eh never never had anything else on (interruption) (unclear)

well that's the beauty of it (unclear) you can go abroad and you're not you're going to well I would say ninety five percent know that you're going to get good weather you might get the odd eh

yeah

the odd eh day where it's going to be raining (unclear)

yeah

(unclear) we are looking forward to going away in September

I had a

so

I had a letter from Toyota you know about the car you know how (interruption) it's sort off

(unclear) mm

(unclear) change the car so I thought well I'll go down because they (interruption) promised (unclear) check

mm mm mm-hm

a ten point check free so I thought

oh aye yeah yeah

I might as well take take advantage of it so I w when I was in down the town (unclear) down in the hospital today

(unclear)

I left the car

mm-hm

and I thought well I'll have a look in

mm

and see what the new cars are all about as well

mm

so I left the car for this free ten point check

mm-hm

and I went into the into the sale room in fact I didn't he was more or less there waiting (interruption) for me you know he took me in

(unclear) yeah

and I s I said 'well I'm not really interested' but he I said 'well I'll have a look at the new Corolla' (unclear) and he says I says 'how much are they' fourteen thousand nine hundred and fifty pounds on the road (NAME)

aye (interruption) (unclear)

I have only done sixteen thousand miles on mine now (interruption) it's just (unclear) you know

same as mine I've only got fourteen and a half on mine now so it's not I mean we know with cars you you can not win I suppose once you get to two three three and a you know the the value drops and the gap between that and a n and a new car I got a letter off Ford the other week about something similar you know but I thought well what's the point really

I said 'how much will you give me for will you (interruption) give me for mine'

aye how much did (unclear) for it

he said 'well' he says 'well their list price' and he sort of sh

(unclear)

tried to put it off a bit you know

mm mm

he ha have you been anywhere else (interruption) or how much are they giving you

(unclear)

I said 'well no I haven't' he says 'well how much do you think your car's worth'

(unclear)

I says 'well I want (interruption) you to tell me'

you tell me (laughter)

(unclear) you know so he said he says 'well I'll go and see the boss' he went away and he had a look at my car which was still (interruption) there being having a service done

mm mm mm

and eh it's the same car as (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear)

I was just going to change the

aye (unclear)

eh (unclear) type and everything he says 'oh well the best I think we could would be just over seven hund probably seven hundred and fifty' I said (interruption) (unclear)

seven and a half thousand you mean

seven and a half thousand

(unclear)

seven seven thousand five hundred aye (laughter) so I said

(interruption) (unclear) to change your car (unclear) (pause) (unclear)

'I'll have a word with (NAME)' (unclear) (unclear) (unclear) seven hun seven thousand five hundred to buy a new car and I've only done sixteen hun sixteen thousand so

yeah

I think eh

mm

it's going to have to last another (unclear) (interruption) years

I would think so aye I think I'm well I mean for the mileage we do now I I've what I'm only averaging about not quite five thousand a year

well by the end of of July I'll have done well it's bang on sixteen thousand now

mm-hm

in three years (interruption) so it's not worth it is it

mm-hm (unclear) well (unclear) somebody's going to get an absolute peach of a car if you trade it in (interruption) (unclear) you're not you're not going to benefit much (unclear) nor would I

oh well they admitted this he he he went on to s he went to say 'well if you go to somewhere else and they offer you something better can I ask you to come back to me'

(laughter)

he says 'we're the nearest' (interruption) (unclear)

and then we'll offer you something better (interruption) (unclear)

'we we're the nearest dealer and it would be better obviously if you can get the same price from me and and eh be be nearer because (interruption) the nearest Toyota' (unclear)

(unclear) well I I actually ehm talking about cars I I fancy going down eh to see the the North East Car Show it opens on the weekend on the Links you know at (interruption) Whitley Bay (pause) (unclear)

oh yes aye I've seen (unclear) they have it every year don't they

not (unclear) thinking of changing but I like to keep abreast and see what I might have a run down at the weekend and see (interruption) what there is (laughter) (pause) (unclear)

I t I told (NAME) she says 'we're not spending seven and a half thousand pounds' (laughter) so (interruption) (unclear) (unclear) because I mean (unclear) excuse was she'd have to change the colour you know

aye this is it you've got to think when you retire haven't you got to think twice (unclear) spending that kind of money you know you could get a kitchen for that (unclear) (laughter)

oh aye it's a lot of money you're right (laughter) and a bathroom (laughter) and a shower that's what she wants to do a shower (laughter)

(unclear) yeah aye

oh dear

well we are we're going to have double glazing done you know we had a quote for that but eh (pause) (unclear) you know they keep improving they bring out new cars and you know you you like them you (interruption) (unclear)

well this was an improvement you know it was a bit s more silent and it's got that what's that new thing (interruption) (unclear)

I like eh (unclear)

what's that new thing they have on that's all new cars have to have now

ca was it catalyst or something

a catalyst yeah (interruption) for the (unclear)

aye (unclear) sure

but apart from that it's just the same (interruption) (unclear)

I like for I like the n the new Mondeo I think (interruption) (unclear)

so do i it's lovely looking (unclear)

smashing car and compared to the price you've just quote I mean eh you can get them less than that

yes

you know if you go up to the top of the range (unclear)

but it doesn't mean anything if you says Mondeo

aye

it doesn't really mean anything (NAME) because you can (unclear) I don't know but you can get a new Mondeo for twelve thousand

(unclear)

but you can always get one for eighteen thousand

that that's right

that might be an exaggeration but that's (interruption) the sort of thing isn't it

yeah oh yeah (unclear) top of the range two litre (unclear) GLX (unclear) (interruption) you're going to pay in into the eighteen for it (unclear)

yeah (pause) oh aye so

(unclear)

so I think we're stuck I said I'd ring him back after I'd (interruption) spoken to (NAME) but it's eh it's just the same I'm not going to bother (interruption)

(interruption) mm mm yeah mm mm mm (interruption) well (NAME) did a one he he changed his over the road there a fortnight ago (unclear) he had a Peugeot 3 0 6 diesel I think he's just changed into the same one course it's a smaller model and and he ehm he did a deal

mm-hm

there was deal on at the time and then there was five hundred pound off for this and this that to cut a long story short I think it only cost him three and a half to change

and how much did it cost to start with

it was the car was eleven and a half course he got a good his was only

phew how old

his must have been two and a half year old to three (pause) but ehm he's got pow it's got power steering got everything on

(unclear)

and the time he he got I says 'you what' (unclear) said 'oh aye' he

(unclear)

he got five hundred quid (unclear) and then there was so much off the car and all you know he got this this that and the other and all told it co he (unclear) reckon it cost him three and a half to change into that model that's standing in (interruption) the driveway

that's cheap isn't it

(unclear) for a it's eh (unclear) the ehm that one is I think it's about eleven eleven and a half (interruption) (unclear) think he's had his arm twisted right up his back (unclear)

(unclear) so it means I could twist this (unclear) twist Toyota's arm a bit couldn't I

yeah

on that principle

my goodness aye aye aye

because although that car of mine's gone up from eh twelve to about fifteen that's three thousand eh only going to offer me let's see seven thousand five hundred

mm

in three years it's only and he'll have done a (interruption) lot more mileage won't he

(unclear) and eh all the big eh motor dealers if they've cut the the profit margin to the dealerships (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) yes (interruption) well you see

(unclear) about ten percent off them all (interruption) as far as I understand

said he would he'd d do the insurance free but you're only talking about two or three (interruption) hundred pound you see

aye that's what (NAME) got he got that free he got the insurance and he got I think the road tax by the time they did the deal on this that and the other he come away with a very very (interruption) very good deal indeed but eh

(unclear) good well I was asking the lad there whether how busy they were he says 'well we're quite busy we've eased off this month we're a bit (interruption) quite reasonable June and July'

mm they're getting rid of August the first (unclear) they

but I don't think you know (interruption) there (unclear)

(unclear)

for instance I rang up about this eh this special (pause) ten

mm-hm

ten point eh free service thing

mm-hm mm-hm

and this was just yesterday and they said they can do it today

mm-hm

so they can not be that busy (interruption) can they

not that busy not really

(unclear)

talking about that we got a letter ehm I think it was addressed to (NAME) as well ehm there was there was a key to a new Ford Fiesta we've been our our names have been drawn out of the hat (laughter)

(laughter) dear dear dear

but we haven't eh (interruption) as I say

and how much money have you won (interruption) ten thousand (unclear)

(unclear) I'll tell what no it's it's to do with (unclear) you've got to send it in but you've also got to agree to take ehm Empire Stores catalogue

(laughter) oh dear

no thank you

no

(unclear) (unclear) (interruption) (unclear)

I think (NAME) said she'd (unclear) I said 'tear it up' she says 'you've cost me fifty thousand pounds' (interruption) (unclear) that was just yesterday (unclear) all the time doesn't it

ha ha yeah yeah yeah yeah (unclear)

well have you enjoyed the football (NAME) the (pause) World Cup

yes well (pause) funnily enough in Malta the there's a live (pause) eh music on most of the pubs but there was live music there and the television was on (interruption) there so (unclear) against each other (unclear) all the hotels and all the all the ca cafes and bars

(unclear) both (unclear) together (laughter) (unclear)

amazing the amount of enthusiasm in Malta for and they're not even involved

no no no

but there there's too many fouls and things (interruption) isn't there and pulling (unclear) jumpers it's not like

I was surprised at eh the way the the and the the number of eh (pause) yellow and red cards that's flying about of course (interruption) (unclear) really

that's (unclear) ridiculous though isn't it there must have been about a about what six (interruption) six (unclear)

well I watched I seen eh Nigeria and Italy game and (NAME) you know he's he watched the one after that

uh-huh

and eh they reckon the referee made a might right mess up I didn't see (interruption) that game but he said he he eh

I didn't see that one I didn't either the second I saw the I saw the Nigerian game

he booked eh the wrong bloke for a foul or something

(laughter)

(laughter) (unclear) realize the mistake he'd made

well this

I think there's two two of the refs have been sent home I think and eh

well it makes you wonder how the r th th ref for the Nigerian I think was a Syrian well they haven't got much football

no

ideas I mean they haven't (interruption) (unclear) (unclear)

they're hard them that Nigerian team were hard as well I thought you know

oh aye big big blokes (interruption) weren't they

(unclear) Italy they did well a

ten (unclear)

I think they were afraid to go home after lossing it (laughter)

oh (unclear)

(unclear) the coach was on the line he was absolutely desperate you know (unclear) he was doing what Jack Charlton got his knuckles wrapped for (laughter)

aye (laughter) yes but still it's (pause) (interruption) (unclear)

(unclear) entertainment yeah (unclear) (pause) so

you're looking at your clock there (NAME) (interruption) (laughter)

(unclear)

yeah

mm well I've I've been busy I've been very busy this week (NAME) (interruption) I've ehm

have you

talking about work that is the outside of the house

(unclear) garden

I've been treating the lawn it the back lawn's all ehm (pause) full of moss so I've treated that treated the front lawn then I've got the wrought iron gates to do because I didn't get them done last year so I've been sanding them down and painting them so eh

(unclear) you do more on the house I just keep mine (interruption) tidy

I'll eh I'll have an easy day today (unclear) (pause) I've got I've still got one to do though you know (interruption) (unclear)

I I cut my lawns yesterday and that's all I've done since I (pause) came back but eh it looks tidy

mm

those marigolds I don't know where I've got them all from (unclear) I had one or two they're spread all over the garden (laughter) it's great (laughter) (unclear) a lot of (unclear) flower you know (interruption) and colour

yeah yeah yeah (interruption) yeah

so eh if you want any marigolds (interruption) you can have some (unclear)

well we we (NAME) got eh some little seedlings in the packet we planted them in the pots there they came out and they should have been beautiful white surrounding flowers but they've they've never materialized there

oh

(unclear) just the green we've got some nice ones inside the porch that eh

aye (interruption) (unclear)

possibly the warmth has been better for them but eh as far as eh (interruption) (unclear) they're a flop them ones

(unclear) these these marigolds are perennials just put a (interruption) few in the back there (unclear) you'll have a lovely gold surround in no time at all

(unclear) oh well (unclear)

they've they seem to just eh (pause) (interruption) seed themselves you know

yeah yeah yeah yeah

so I've got a load down the

uh-huh

both sides of the drive and the

yeah

some around the front there (laughter)

(unclear)

lovely (unclear) garden there

well it's one thing about gardening it doesn't wait for you you you've got to get cracking you know it's not very eh

aye well I'm not keen (interruption) (unclear) time

very sympathetic (unclear) you don't (unclear) (unclear) so (pause) that's eh

well it's a it's amazing (NAME) I never I don't how I found time to work you know since I (interruption) retired

well I (unclear) it's the best thing that ever happened to me I've got (interruption) no regrets at all about eh retirement

oh aye should have done it five years before (interruption) (unclear)

no not at all none absolutely none I've eh I keep my well I've been busy I'll be four year come November and I've eh (pause) I've found plenty to keep busy with

yes (interruption) makes you wonder

eh plenty to keep (unclear) bit more leisure time and you know get around a bit more than what you did

yeah (pause) no complaints

none whatsoever none at all none at all

(unclear) get the police coming into the Post Office (pause) (interruption) and the security business

eeh dear me (unclear) mm mm (pause) yes (unclear) just have to keep wor eye caught one or two out in there with the police and the security people

aye

(unclear) we were fortunate I suppose in as much as eh

but you got out as well (interruption) (unclear)

all the years we were there fortunately we did we didn't have any eh

attacks did you

any attacks but eh the people that took over from us they'd only been in three month and they got one you know on a Saturday morning

did they did they take did they get anything (pause) (interruption) (unclear)

not a lot they came in ehm (pause) they would close at twelve thirty I think it was round about twelve when they were attacked which by that time there wouldn't be a lot of loose cash lying around (interruption) I would think

(unclear) the safe would be time locked was it (interruption) (unclear)

yes yes

(unclear)

so I mean they never divulge I mean you see you read (pause) reports in the press about this Post Office done and how much money they got I think a lot of that's speculation on behalf of the press because

(unclear)

there's neither police nor the Post Office authorities would release what was taken

no (interruption) (unclear)

they guess the figure by the size of the Office I think you know (interruption) (unclear)

that's all they're doing isn't it

and as far as that one was concerned eh there was I think there was money taken but I don't think a large amount

no

more important than that I think was eh the trauma for the the sub post mistress and her husband because (interruption) (unclear)

oh aye has she still got it (NAME)

yes oh aye she's still there (unclear)

do you ever see her

no I've actually I've never been to eh I rang up you know when I heard about it and I rang up and had a word with them but I never eh I've never been down I've never had occasion to go down to see (interruption) (unclear)

I've seen (NAME) occasionally he he's had a rough time this last (interruption) eh six months you know

has he (unclear) I think a lot of eh retailers have really haven't (interruption) (unclear)

well I don't mean financially he says the business is still okay

oh

but he says the ehm h his health's been bad

has it

(unclear) he he never had any when we were together he never had never had a day off

no no he didn't no

ehm but since November he's had (interruption) a lot of trouble

has he (interruption) (unclear)

mm aye he's been in and out of hospital well he he had a heart problem and then it went down to ehm somewhere in the (interruption) prostrate area you know so he's still not not quite right (unclear)

(unclear) (pause) I was lucky really I mean I I was I worked all the whole all my working life and right up till I was sixty four you know

aye