(unclear) the tin can you know

with the lolly sticks on the top

yes

aye aye

uh-huh and can you remember the ehm (pause) the the jacks

aye

did you play (unclear)

aye nobody plays jacks now do they

I know I know

you never see them now

I know we used to play jacks

uh-huh

there's four of we

aye

and it was like onesie twosie threesie foursie did you do (interruption) the same

aye and two baller

two baller yes

aye

three baller

uh-huh uh-huh

uh-huh

and then w where you tied all the elastic bands together

uh-huh

round your legs

(unclear) legs that's right

and you like skipped with them (interruption) we did that as well

s yes yes uh-huh and we used do you know what we used to do as well when we were little you know your coal house (interruption) it used to be

aye

there was a little door (pause) that faced the back lane

aye

we used to go (laughter) in the coal house climb over the coal out the hole and around and do it again

gain aye uh-huh

and then my mother used to come out (laughter) and (unclear) bray you me and my sister we used to end up in the bath

aye

in front of the fire the tin bath

tin bath aye

get bathed and straight to bed

(unclear)

six o'clock at night you had to go to bed because you were black as the ace of spades

aye (unclear)

you know

we had ehm (pause) further up the s we were one tiv a yard but further up the s we were posh you see we had one to a yard and an inside tap

uh-huh

but farther up the street there was two to a yard and an outside (interruption) tap

tap

but they had shelters like the old (pause) air raid (interruption) shelters

shelters yes

still in their yard and we would die to get into theirs because they used to do them out as like ehm (pause) gang huts and

gang huts

they had carpets and that

(laughter) (unclear)

for all we we had the (pause) the one yard to ourself

yes

we liked to get up the street into the eh two tiv a yard

yes

in there get into (unclear) (pause) (interruption) (unclear) gang hut (unclear)

well we used to have a (pause) can you remember used did you used to get your mother's clothes horse

oh aye make a tent

and and put it up and go and get a blanket

aye (interruption) uh-huh

and put the blanket over the clothes horse we used to (interruption) have tents

uh-huh aye (laughter)

(unclear) we lived at Benwell (pause) and (pause) I went to Atkinson Road school and opposite Atkinson Road school there's a clinic now

(unclear)

well that used to be a field just a big (interruption) field

field

and we used to call it the twinnies field because (pause) there was a family with twin (pause) boys lived

(unclear)

on the houses and they're still there facing the school field we used to call it the twinnies (interruption) field

field aye

and we used to go for our picnics there (unclear) sandwiches which was bread and butter and jam and a bottle of water

aye aye

and a bottle of (interruption) water

water aye (unclear)

yeah and we used to call it the twinnies field because they lived (interruption) on the field (laughter)

on the field aye aye

you know

we used to go to Heaton Park that's where we went (interruption) (unclear)

oh you were posher

posh oh they (unclear) the park we lived off Shields Road

uh-huh

eh they're knocked down now there's big flats there now but ehm we would go to Heaton Park and eh (pause) like along through Jesmond Dene and that to the waterfall and like plodge all the way up the dene

yes yeah

and eh we would like take wor sandwiches and that but eh I mean you couldn't we would roam about all day and not think about it

I know

but I mean you couldn't let kids out now

no you can not

eh

you can not

and you didn't have like (pause) wey we had the back lane and that and ehm (pause) but I mean they have like got they just play in the street and that now (interruption) don't they (unclear)

(unclear) well we moved we moved from Benwell when I was ten and went to West Denton my mam had got a mam and dad got a brand new house

mm

we thought it was great

(unclear)

my mam couldn't get over it when she seen the bathroom

aye

you know brand new well she actually she's still in the house now

(unclear)

and we there was a youth club there (pause) and we used to go to the (interruption) youth club

youth club

three times a week

aye

and I can r remember me and my sister used to go and my mam used to give wor four pence each

mm-hm

we used to come out of the youth club and go to the fish shop and a packet of (interruption) chips was four pence

chips aye aye

then (unclear)

aye w Friday night was wor treat we had chips on a Friday night

yes

because my dad was in the Navy till I was about about three (pause) so and we lived I mean eh we only had like the two rooms and there's me and my brother I slept with my mam and dad (pause) till I was fourteen

did you

aye I had a a cupboard it was a pullie down bed in the cupboard

did you

so I didn't have a bedroom till I was fourteen and eh like I (pause) lived in the cupboard you know

(laughter) (interruption) (unclear) lived in the lived in the cupboard

(laughter) (unclear) lived in the cupboard ehm but it was a pullie down bed and eh like the front room (pause) was (pause) like the front room but it was my mam and dad's bedroom

that's right

and then we only had like the kitchen (pause) and the back bedroom which was my brother's

uh-huh

and then the scullery and the outside toilet and that

(unclear) well we had (interruption) a nice house (unclear)

but we were f I was fourteen when we shifted and we got a eh house up ehm (pause) High Heaton (pause) and that was we thought it was fant you know you could get lost because it had three bedrooms and a bathroom (interruption) (unclear) living room and a eh (pause) front room and that

yes we had we all wor me and my sister had wor own bedroom

and we thought it was you know eeh where are you going oh I better come with you because you know with the all the rooms and that it was

uh-huh when my mam seen the kitchen

uh-huh

the lovely cooker and everything

uh-huh

but she was (pause) (interruption) them days

(unclear) brand new aye (interruption) uh-huh uh-huh yeah

yes everything was brand new you know and eh I had my own bedroom

aye

and my sister had her own bedroom

it's the same as now how you they've got that much their rooms are never tidy and I think wey eeh I'm sure I didn't leave my things lying around like that but you didn't have things (interruption) to leave lying around you know

(unclear) lying around you had (interruption) nothing

you know as I say I had my cupboard and eh I had a chest of drawers and a little (pause) tallboy

tall (unclear)

with a eh cupboard underneath

uh-huh

and the shelves eh drawers on the top

you didn't have the clothes the kids (interruption) have now

no no

you know

I mean you got new shoes at Christmas and Easter

yes

(unclear)

white sandals at Easter

aye

didn't you

and then I mean

(unclear)

you didn't have the stuff to leave lying around and

now kids have (pause) their own telly (interruption) their own stereo

aye mm mm-hm

some have their own video don't they now

aye aye

they have everything in their bedrooms

(unclear) it's our fault isn't it we've we've done it (interruption) haven't we

yeah that's true

I mean (unclear) kids

yes (interruption) that's it

we've done it but

that's it the kids nowadays don't think (pause) they think now nothing (pause) of eh what they get for Christmas do they (NAME)

no

they don't

I mean an apple an orange and a sixpence in the bottom of your stocking

yes yes

and (unclear) eh (pause) ehm I had a doll's house that my dad made for us and our (NAME) had a fort that my dad had made

uh-huh

and I mean most of the things were like (pause) you could in fact the pram I got one Christmas I remember my friend's sister had getten it a few years before

(laughter)

and it had just been done up

and handed down

and eh I got it for the Christmas

uh-huh (interruption) yes

aye but

I remember when my mam and my mam and dad bought me and my sister a watch (pause) each for (interruption) Christmas

Christmas

well my mother had a d dressing table and she always had it in the front of her window

aye

in the b in her bedroom well she had (pause) it was like an invisible drawer on the top and then three drawers

mm-hm

so she put it in (interruption) the first drawer

(unclear)

you see not the invisible one so when she went out (pause) her and my dad went out my sister (pause) was more (pause) up here than me she took the top drawer out

(unclear)

(laughter) and put her (interruption) hand in down

hand down

and we found the watches eeh on Christmas morning we're like this

(unclear)

you know we couldn't get over the watches

aye aye

you know

aye

because

things

things like that but nowadays these k the kids think nothing of it do they

two hundred pounds now to spend on them at Christmas and they they don't appreciate it

they don't because they

they're bored on on Boxing Day they're bored

because I think it's just (pause) they expect it

uh-huh

don't they

uh-huh

they think nothing of it

(unclear) yeah

you know (unclear)

clothes and that I mean it's (pause) they they've got to have the names and that on (interruption) or they'll not be

designer designer

they're not satisfied with anything

mm-hm

(unclear)

yeah

(unclear)

but you haven't got the discipline now (NAME)

no

with kids

no no

there's not the discipline they're not frightened of nothing (pause) you know

I mean I remember

they don't respect grown ups now

we lived beside Heaton station (pause) and my brother (pause) once there was these lads and they were throwing stones at the train well my brother wasn't there

uh-huh

but he (pause) arrived there just as the police came (pause) to get these lads and my brother got collared as well eeh my brother was (pause) terrified in case (pause) the police had said you know

uh-huh

said anything to my mam and dad

uh-huh

but I mean now they would just go to the police 'oh' (pause) you know

aye (unclear)

they wouldn't

they wouldn't think nothing of it

no

they've done it here

mm-hm

haven't they

mm-hm

you know they don't think nothing of it

I know

but we used to ehm and then when I left school (pause) we used to go to the dance

oh aye

on a Friday night and it was one and six to get in

mm-hm mm-hm

you see

where was this

West Denton dance

oh

it was a hut

uh-huh

the I used to go to Scotswood dance

(unclear)

(unclear) it was next to The Robin Adair

aye

but it was a hut as as well it's not (interruption) up now

I've been in the Milvain that was (interruption) a dance there

yes the mil

(unclear) used to go to there

yes the Milvain and the ehm

on a Friday

the Brighton

used to have a eh

the Brighton (interruption) where the bowling alley is

no I never went to the Brighton I went there they used to have a eh like a live group on on a Friday

uh-huh

I've been there sometimes (unclear)

yes I've been to the Brighton

(unclear)

that was great the Brighton then it turned into a night club

(unclear)

well we used to go to the dance on a Friday night it was one and six (pause) and my dad used to come and meet me outside the (interruption) dance

d aye

and take us home

mm-hm mm-hm that was it if I

and I was seventeen

aye well if I had a la if a lad walked me home (pause) ehm if we got home (pause) there was my brother (pause) I mean my brother was six foot two from when he was (pause) twelve you know he's always been big

(unclear) mm-hm

and my brother would come out and say 'it's not about time you were in' and they would always say 'who's that who's that' you know and

uh-huh

it was my brother that used to (pause) eh say to me

mm-hm

rather than my dad

that's right

you know but eh

uh-huh

(unclear)

my dad was so strict

mm-hm

you know if you if he said you had to be in for a certain time you were in

or else

or else he was out looking for you

aye

you know

(unclear)

and now the kids just roam round roam round the streets

aye uh-huh

and if a lad used to walk us to the gate (pause) eeh eeh (unclear) mam used to go mad used to say 'get her in this house'

uh-huh

you know

uh-huh

'get her in this house now'

uh-huh

and now he'll say to us 'you understand what I' I says 'dad I don't know what you would do now (pause) (interruption) if you had this generation'

(unclear) aye mm-hm

wha you know what would they do now

mm-hm yes

your parents (unclear)

aye

you know

(unclear) was like innocent past times wasn't it (unclear)

I know innocent

you

we we used to do jigsaws

aye

we used to stop in and do jigsaws and I was (pause) in my teens

(unclear)

you know

and the Christmas party at the eh the club the eh

the club I used to my dad used to take us to the club (interruption) at Benwell

there was a film show

there was a

and an apple and an orange we used to get

apple and an orange and you used

aye

used to get half a crown

(unclear)

and there was Punch and Judy show (interruption) on

(unclear) uh-huh

on a Christmas morning

mm-hm

used to take we

to the (unclear)

to the club

uh-huh

bring we back

mm-hm

and my mam got a chicken (pause) for (interruption) Christmas

Christmas aye (unclear)

and you were rich if you had a chicken

aye

for Christmas didn't you

mm-hm mm-hm

she used to have a press like one of those big presses I can still remember with a black with like with leaded (pause) glass doors and you opened the opened the doors and then there was drawers on the bottom

(unclear)

she used to have one of them

(unclear)

in her kitchen

my gran (interruption) had the gas lights I remember the gas lights (interruption)

(interruption) (unclear) (interruption) I used to go for the mantles for my (interruption) grandma

aye

and they were f a shilling

mm

for a mantle

and a jug of beer at Jackson's

yes

I've often been to (unclear) for that

is that on Shields Road

aye uh-huh

is it the same Jackson's

uh-huh yes

a jug of b (interruption) (interruption) has that always been a pub

and (interruption) chicken (interruption) aye yes it was I mean it I don't think it was called Jackson's but everybody knew it as Jackson's and it used to have like a ehm (pause) the (pause) lounge and that was on the front on the main corner and then it used to have a little eh side door

mm-hm

for off sales and if you went in the little side door (pause) with your jug because my gran just lived opposite on Headlam Street

uh-huh

and eh

oh that's where the police station was and the fire station

aye because my

wasn't it

my mother used to get eh old police boots when she was young she says she used to die (pause) because they were like hard up and eh for to going to school and that they used to get the old police boots

well my dad just my dad even says to me (pause) today he'll say I was lucky when I was little I had shoes

(unclear)

to go to school a lot of them didn't (unclear) went in their bare feet

aye (unclear)

they didn't have shoes

(unclear)

or boots

mm-hm

he says I was lucky I was the lucky one I had boots to wear

mm-hm

so it must have been harder (interruption) again

gain then (unclear)

mustn't it

but you could get a jug of beer just she used to (pause) take eh the white the big white porcelain jugs

mm-hm

and they would fill the the jug up with beer (pause) for my gran

well my ma my my my mam used to live on (pause) ehm Elswick Road

mm

now she used to go along to the (pause) fruit shop eeh she tells (unclear) I love to listen tiv her along to the fruit shop (pause) on a Friday she used to get a big bag (pause) of vegetables everything and a rabbit on the top for a shilling

(unclear) mm-hm mm-hm

(unclear)

I remember on Newgate Street there used to be a cake shop (pause) opposite you know where the m the entrance to the market used to be the green the old Greenmarket

yes

where the entrance was (unclear)

yes

eh Newgate Street

Newgate Street

then there was like a leather shop and there was this little cake shop

yes I can remember

and every Saturday my mam used to get a a pineapple cake and they were one and six and that was wor treat for the weekend one and six this pineapple cake

yes

from there

yeah uh-huh I know

I think that was the only cream cake we ever got this one from there and broken biscuits from the Co op

well we used to go there was a shop (pause) d off Atkinson Road off Armstrong Road it was ehm I don't know was it Helen Street and it used to be on the corner and we used to go for broken (interruption) biscuits

(unclear)

a pound a broken biscuits

mm-hm

used to keep them in a gr you know the tin (interruption) boxes

aye aye

well she used to g put all the broken biscuits together and you got a mixture and you got them in a (interruption) great big bag

(unclear) aye

and my mam used to say to me (pause) 'go and get me a shilling's worth of broken biscuits'

aye

you used to get a great big bag full and then me and my sister used to go to (unclear) shop on the corner (pause) of eh Armstrong Road and we used to get a penny dainty

aye

it was a (pause) toffee bar and they called them 'dainties' and they were a penny and we used to get a one every morning

oh

on wor way to school

(unclear)

a penny every day each for school

mm (unclear)

now the kids come with fivers and tenners

aye mm-hm

here don't they

mm-hm mm-hm aye mm-hm (unclear) the Co op used to be round the corner from us and eh the butter (unclear) the big barrels of butter

yes yes the sugar as well (interruption) can you remember they used to bag the sugar

and there was (unclear) sugar side and the bacon (interruption) side

con side yes

and she would say 'go to the Co op and (pause) go to the sugar side and get (pause) whatever and don't forget my divvie'

(laughter)

'remember my cheque'

(laughter) the big blue bags

aye

they used to fill (unclear) in the (interruption) blue bags

(unclear) bags

I can still rem my

(unclear)

c can you remember your mother's cheque number

aye six eight two nine four (interruption) (unclear)

four six one five six

aye

was my mam's

and the woman next door hers was six eight no ours was six eight two nine four hers was four three seven nine six because I used to do her

uh-huh

shopping as well

yes

(unclear)

used to go and get your sugar (pause) and we used to go to where High Cross Store's on Adelaide Terrace at the top of our street

mm-hm

when I was little and we used to go (pause) and ehm (pause) the big barrels of butter we used to we used to get two pound of sugar fill them in the dark blue bags

mm-hm mm-hm

you know and I think your rations was (interruption) well that's was they (unclear) your rations

(unclear) (unclear) rations (unclear) for your rations aye

your rations and your ration book

aye

I can remember the ration books

aye (interruption) (unclear)

you're only allowed so many sweets

can't remember

and so many (pause) things on your (interruption) ration book

(unclear) mm-hm

and m our my sister was terrible for sweets

(unclear)

and she used to have (pause) weeks ahead rations spent

aye

on on the sweets because (unclear) stamp

mm

she used to s you know

I can't remember the rations ehm

I can remember the (interruption) ration books

(unclear) the coro the coronation's the first thing I can remember is the coronation

oh I can remember the coronation

and the s the back lanes were all (interruption) painted

painted uh-huh

and the streamers were out

uh-huh

and it absolutely poured (interruption) it poured

yes it did because me and my sister (pause) were dressed up in red white and blue paper dresses

(unclear)

we had them made and we had all the lovely paper dresses this woman over the road to we was a dress maker but she'd made them with this (pause) strong paper crpe (interruption) paper

paper

and it stotted down all day

well I had a little dress made out of a Union Jack and because it rained we went into the Bucks Club on Heaton Road they had the party there for the bairns

uh-huh

and I went to the toilet (pause) and left the tap on and my mother took my frock off us to mop the floor but eeh I was devastated

(laughter)

because I had this (pause) lovely Union Jack frock and tha that's the first thing I can remember the coronation

she took it off you

and she took it off to mop the floor aye and I was devastated and that that's that's the first thing I can remember (unclear)

uh-huh

(unclear)

but I was down (pause) Atkinson Road school the other week because my daughter li works there you know and I could just picture it

mm-hm

it's (interruption) never changed from when I went there

as it was done uh-huh

and I went there till I was ten year old

aye

and it's never changed it just doesn't look big

aye (interruption) aye

you know all the classrooms are the same and everything

uh-huh (unclear)

you know how you and the even the little cloakroom

aye

how you remember

uh-huh

right from that's forty years isn't it

aye uh-huh

from when I was ten

yeah

how I can remember it's never (interruption) changed

changed uh-huh

you know

it's funny isn't it

apart from the the kids that's there now

aye uh-huh uh-huh

marvellous

I can not think where we used to go (unclear) ehm (pause) to the not so much the Mayfair the Oxford Galleries we went to the Oxford

Wednesday afternoon (interruption) tea dance

aye and the eh the Majestic at the bottom of Westgate Road

we used to go there (interruption) on a Saturday afternoon

on the Saturday afternoon aye

did you go there (interruption) on a Saturday afternoon

and walk round and round on the top (interruption) (unclear)

yes we did

the DJ used to be in the balcony (interruption) up the top aye

uh-huh you went to the Maj

aye we used to go there

aye we used to call it the Maj

(unclear) (unclear)

and then we used to go to the Paletta

oh I never went there

on ehm Blackett Street you know Carrick's it was Paletta you went downstairs

(unclear) (unclear)

you know where Fenwick's is now

aye

it was over the road to (interruption) there

(unclear)

there was the Y W

aye the YMCA on the (interruption) corner

YMCA well it was next door it was Carrick's but downstairs was the Paletta and we used to go down there after the Maj

(unclear)

for wor coffee there used to b there was a jukebox in

mm-hm

and we used to have coffee or you could have drinks you know

mm-hm oh no I never went there

but you see the kids now don't do nothing well there's they don't do nothing like that

no (interruption) no

do they there's no there's just like (interruption) night clubs

(unclear) I mean we would go to the pictures but but I mean it's too expensive now for kids to go to the pictures

I know it is

(unclear) don't suppose you can blame them really (interruption) because (interruption) there's not a lot for them to do

(interruption) (unclear) (interruption) no

but eh

you see when we were teenagers (unclear) there was youth clubs

aye we had a youth club at (interruption) church

you see and there was dances of a weekend and there used to be a dance through the week

mm-hm

you know and then we used to go to the pictures

aye

but there's not the pictures there is now (interruption) because we had all these

Tuesday and Thursday was the youth club and Friday was the pictures

uh-huh

I used to go to the pictures on a Friday night with my dad to the Imperial at Byker Bank and then (interruption) on a Saturday morning sometimes we would go to the matinee at the Heaton on (interruption) Heaton Road

(interruption) eeh (interruption) I used to go to the Majestic on Condercum (interruption) Road

road aye

it's still well it's a bingo club now

aye

we used to go there on a Saturday morning

mm-hm

I used to get nine pence (interruption) sixpence to get in ABC minors (interruption)

(interruption) (unclear) (interruption) aye

that's what we were called ABC minors we used to (interruption) sing and everything

sing aye

sixpence to get in and threepence for wor sweets

(unclear)

me and my sister and we used to stand in the queue on a Saturday morning

mm-hm that's (unclear) (NAME) oft

and eh you see there's nothing for the kids now (interruption) (unclear)

(NAME) often says to me 'mam what did you do before you had the telly' (pause) you know

well I think I was about (pause) I think I was about thirt twelve or (interruption) thirteen

teen

when we first got a television

I think I must have been about (pause) well Kennedy how long's Kennedy I can I think (pause) when Kennedy was assassinated we had it

sixty one was it or something

I don't think we'd had the telly very long maybes a a year eighteen months

uh-huh

we'd had the telly then and I remember that (interruption) (unclear)

we had a one and you (unclear) it was only one channel (interruption) BBC

aye uh-huh

that was wor first (interruption) telly

great big box thing standing on (interruption) the floor

(unclear) yes that's right

aye

and eh it was just b b BBC

uh-huh

and then when i Tyne Tees came out

aye

I used to go down to the neighbours

mm-hm

two doors down to watch the other programmes on the (laughter) Tyne Tees

tees oh we had the had the telly at Molineaux Street so before we shifted so that must have been (pause) eh (pause) (unclear)

did you live in Molineaux Street

aye (unclear) eh where (unclear) stores is off Shields Road

uh-huh

(unclear)

eeh my neighbour lived there

what'd they call her

(NAME)

(NAME) what

oh (pause) I don't know her s her maiden name lot older than you though (pause) (NAME)

(unclear)

lot older than you (pause) she lived in Molineaux (interruption) Street

Molineaux Street aye

(NAME) (pause) (NAME) (pause) (NAME) she had a brother was a footballer (pause) anyway she lived there

(unclear)

and ehm (interruption) (unclear)

well I lived down the bottom tell her a hundred and six I lived down (interruption) (unclear)

hundred and six I'll ask her (unclear)

(NAME)

(NAME) a hundred and six what do they call her I can't (unclear) think of her name she's told us her maiden name but I I can not think of it

mm were they a big family like

I think there was about four or five of them in the family

mm because there was like biggish families (pause) further up (pause) from us ehm

I'll tell you what we used to do as well on a Saturday we used to get the bus over to Byker and go to Parrish's

Parrish's aye uh-huh

upstairs and the Heaton on Heaton Road (interruption) on a Friday night

Heaton aye (unclear) Heaton aye well we used to go on a Saturday morning

when I worked in the factory when I left school (pause) this girl lived at Wallsend (pause) and I used to stop at her house on a Friday night and I used to go to Heaton with her

mm-hm

and then the Mem the Memorial Hall (interruption) at Wallsend

hall mm-hm

remember that

aye no I never w

that was massive (interruption) place that Memorial Hall

mm no I never went there mm

the Mem

I I ehm (pause) we lived in (pause) Heaton when I first got married we lived in Wallsend

uh-huh

we lived in Wallsend for (pause) three years

uh-huh

and then we moved up here and we've been up here (pause) seventeen years (pause) so eh

uh-huh (interruption) (unclear)

so for all the time we've been up here I don't really know a lot (pause) of the streets and that (unclear) been here that long

no

I don't know a lot of the places up here

no

(unclear)

that's because (pause) really Heaton's over the other (interruption) end isn't it really

end aye mm-hm mm-hm

uh-huh well I've lived in Benwell you see

(unclear)

and then I lived at West Denton

(unclear)

so I know a canny bit (interruption) (unclear)

bit round here

I'm not I don't really know much about Fenham way

aye (unclear)

I don't know Fenham area much

but like Heaton and Shields Road my dad used to work at Parson's

eeh my dad (interruption) did

(unclear) my dad was in the boiler rooms at Parson's

(unclear) well my dad was on the turbines he worked there (pause) my dad was there forty (pause) forty odd year

well my dad was (interruption) (unclear)

he was sixty three when he got his redundancy

my dad (interruption) (unclear) aye

he put in for it and they refused him then he put for it in again and he got it when he was sixty three and he's seventy two now

oh well my dad my dad put in for early retirement and he got it ehm (pause) when he was sixty three

when

and he retired

how old is he now (NAME)

he's dead he retired

oh

he re no sixty four c no sixty three that's right he retired in the July and he had been he was coming up to sixty four (pause) his birthday

uh-huh

and he died he had barely been retired the year so if he hadn't like took his early (interruption) retirement

I wonder if my dad knows him

(NAME) (NAME)

I'll ask him

mm-hm

he's (interruption) bound to know him

he he worked there in like in the (pause) boiler room (pause) all the time ehm

what they call him again

(NAME) (NAME)

(NAME) (NAME) I'll remember that

mm-hm

ehm eeh I'll I'll ask my dad if he knew him because my dad was there

mm-hm

forty odd year

mm-hm uh-huh (unclear) and he was there all the t isn't that funny how like (pause) you know a neighbour in Molineaux Street

uh-huh

and then your dad working there as well

(unclear) uh-huh

(unclear) uh-huh

eeh I'll ask eh (interruption) (unclear)

coincidence that

(NAME) (NAME)

but my dad would have been well he would have been seventy (pause) now because he's been dead six years

(unclear) (interruption) only two year difference between them

(unclear) seventy ish now (unclear)

my dad was a fitter and turner he worked on the

aye

he worked on the turbines (pause) and then ehm (pause) he got bad ears

mm-hm

and they put him on security

mm-hm

he was on the gates

oh (interruption) (unclear)

for the last two year (pause) or something

uh-huh

then he put in for his redun

(unclear)

his eh redundancy he got it

uh-huh

sixty three he was

uh-huh well my dad was in the Navy (pause) till when till I was like a toddler and then he he eh went to Parson's and he was at (interruption) Parson's like

(unclear) my dad knows him

uh-huh I think the the foreman I think was called Mr (NAME) (pause) (unclear) eh (pause) (unclear) he was in the boiler room

uh-huh

worked in the boilers

(unclear)

and eh he worked there (pause) apparently because my husband worked there as well and apparently my dad had a good store of ehm risque books (pause) in the boiler room

of what

risque sort of your Playboys and things like (interruption) that

did he

according to my husband aye my dad used to keep all these books in the boiler room aye

eeh (laughter)

aye (laughter)

but eh (pause) because I I mean I I went to school just North View just up so I I've never sort of moved out of Heaton

no you haven't

eh it's all been the (unclear)

(unclear)

area

uh-huh

I mean I never even changed schools I went to ju eh infants juniors and seniors all in the same school (pause) in the same (interruption) eh

did you

aye it was one big sch well big I mean it was like the infants and the juniors were at that end and the senior school was that end of the yard (interruption) and eh (pause) we just had a play yard and (unclear) ehm

uh-huh that well they were in them days weren't you you didn't go to different schools did you

Forsyth Road for wor ehm

(interruption) Jesmond

playing field aye

Jesmond (interruption) uh-huh

if we eh because we didn't have a field nor nowt (interruption) (unclear)

well that's where that's where they all (pause) Dame Allens and Central High go

(unclear)

that's their playing field

is it

because my niece went to Central High

uh-huh

and that was where they played

(unclear)

that's the field they went to (interruption) (unclear)

we used to get the bus to Forsyth Road

mm-hm

(unclear)

mm-hm

and I remember coming here (pause) to play hockey (pause) when this was a high school (interruption) when it was

it was a grammar

uh-huh

it was a boys' school actually

oh well it was girls we came up to play hockey here and they absolutely hacked we to bits (pause) eh they were for it to be like ha I mean we were just the secondary modern

(unclear)

but this it was a high school and (interruption) they hacked we to bits

(unclear) grammar school Rutherford Grammar

aye

ehm it was all boys at first then it must have changed

aye I'm sure

unless this this was the boys' school and I think The Grange was the girls' school

maybes

I don't know but I know it was all boys

uh-huh

but I don't know what building

and I I no I remember coming up to play hockey and eh they absolutely (pause) lashed we to bits you know because we were expecting geet softies (interruption) with it being a

I don't think I don't think they should have done away with the grammar schools

no I don't

I think

I don't see why if you're gifted why you shouldn't be encouraged to eh

no I don't think they should have done away with them

mm-hm

I agree I don't think it should have been eleven plus I think it should have been a bit older

mm-hm

because a lot of kids it doesn't come out

mm-hm

till they're about a little bit older

mm-hm

I think it should have been twelve or thirteen

mm-hm

for the exams and then put into a grammar school

mm-hm

if they pass but I think this is the worst thing they've done

aye (interruption) the comprehensives (unclear)

the comprehensives because the kids that want to learn are stuck with the ones that don't want to learn

mm-hm

I know I know you you still get the results but I think if they had grammar schools (pause) they would have all the same type of kid together

I mean there was only two hundred and odd I mean you could name every kid in your school

uh-huh you (interruption) could

when I went to school I mean you couldn't even name every kid in your class

no

these days when they talk about

I know I know

this stream and that stream and this population and that population (interruption) at school

I know I know

you know

I know

but eh I definitely think they should have kept the grammar schools (interruption) (unclear)

yeah I think they should have

and the uniform I think there should be more we always wore unif I was (interruption) (unclear)

we had to

(unclear) socks till I was fifteen

we had to

(unclear)

at Walbottle I went to Walbottle from (pause) Atkinson Road I went to Walbottle primary then I went to Walbottle (pause) secondary modern and we had to (interruption) wear the uniform

wear the uniform

if we didn't have wor full uniform on when we went to school you got (interruption) sent home

(unclear) mm-hm and if the tea teacher seen you outside and you didn't have the green beret on you got wrong for even that

I know

and you'll be up and down to school

I know

if you didn't have the stupid hat on

(unclear)

and that was just

well we didn't wear a hat

oh we had (unclear)

ours was black and gold our uniform

(unclear)

and ehm you had to have the proper PE gear

aye

and everything

uh-huh

and if you didn't and if you d had left anything (pause) you got (interruption) sent home

(unclear) home aye

or you didn't have anything on (interruption) you got sent home

(unclear) mm-hm

or you were disciplined and then you you know

but they say now that they don't do it so that they make them all the same but I mean because people can't afford it but I mean if they can afford to spend a hundred pound on a pair of (interruption) trainers

trainers

(unclear) why they can not buy a pair you know ordinary (interruption) shoes

shoes

for school or something and

uh-huh I know I know

or a a

because I think there's a lot of families especially in the west end

mm

there's a lot of families which can't afford what other families can afford and it puts a stigma on the kids

mm-hm

that can't get the clothes

mm-hm

the other kids get

mm-hm I mean at Cuthbert's ehm (pause) because I like (interruption) (unclear) (unclear)

Saint Cuthbert's is (pause) (interruption) all uniform isn't it

I mean they all all wear the uniform but you can pick out whose mother does the washing and whose mother sees to them I mean they all wear the uniform but

uh-huh

there's some raggy ones in dirty frayed shirts (interruption) and that

uh-huh

and there's some immaculate

uh-huh

but they all wear the uniform

that's

and they're all

uh-huh

the same

that's true uh-huh

you know with the

uh-huh

and eh I

yes

think it makes a difference

I know

(unclear) eh

I know

I think it does (unclear)

because they come through here in this school what are they like

eeh

the earrings in and (pause) you weren't allow well I didn't even have my ears pierced

oh I did

when I was a kid

I did I got mine (interruption) done when I was young

I was left school when I got mine done

oh I had mine done when I was little

you know

(unclear)

you didn't wear rings for school (unclear) you didn't have the your your

mm-hm

your mother didn't have the money

mm-hm

you know

mm-hm

for a signet ring and

mm-hm

all these rings the young ones wear now

mm-hm

your mother didn't have the money

mm-hm

you never just didn't get it

no no

you know

mm

I remember my mam she used to she used to have ten pound and I can still remember

house keeping

ten pound she used to get (pause) for for me and my sister to to spend (unclear)

(unclear)

I'll take you to the town we used to go and get shoes (pause) she used to get a rig out for me and my sister for ten pound and I can still remember

mm-hm

that

mm-hm well I know he eh (NAME) was just (unclear) a new pair of trainers I think they were (pause) fifty nine pound or something and eh (NAME) my husband had said 'you know we would never dream of paying' (pause) (interruption) (unclear)

well you wouldn't you wouldn't

I says 'wey aye' I says 'I've paid sixty odd for eh for shoes before' he says 'when did you pay sixty' I says 'sixty nine and eleven' I says 'that was a posh pair of shoes'

(laughter) sixty (interruption) nine and

sixty nine and eleven

(laughter)

you know eh

well when when we left school the stiletto heels came out didn't they

(unclear)

well we used to go to Leonard's

uh-huh

on the corner of (interruption) Clayton Street

Clayton Street aye

and we had plain white (pause) stiletto heels forty nine and eleven

(unclear)

but if you got the higher one the higher heel it was fifty (interruption) nine and eleven

mm (unclear) mm-hm

you know

and the w the white stockings peach bloom I still remember

(laughter)

the colour of my stockings my first stockings

can you remember the winkle pickers

aye

I can remember me and my friend bought some winkle pickers hers was gun metal

mm

and mine was bronze well we got sick of them so there was there was a cobbler (pause) opposite Westgate Hill school Potts the cobbler he was there for years years and years little shop and there was hundred when you walked in there was a hundred pairs of shoes I don't (unclear) who how he

did them aye

did them and knew whose they were you know

mm-hm (interruption) (unclear)

and we went and he says 'I'll chop the ends off' (laughter) so we took them and he put them square chopped the ends (interruption) off

that was a fashion aye I remember square (interruption) the square shoes (unclear)

yes it changed so we got the end the ch the ends chopped off and it was a new pair of shoes

aye aye

you know but the kids now they don they don't (unclear) (unclear)

mm-hm

don't realize they've got no value for money (unclear)

they haven't like no

(unclear) got nothing

no

(unclear)

but it's still got a lot to do with us I think we we pander to the kids you know

(unclear)

it's our fault that probably that they're the way they are

uh-huh

because we never had it so you tend to give it to (interruption) the kids

to the kids uh-huh because (interruption) money's

you know

I know there's a lot of hard (unclear)

(unclear) we've got more money now

yes (interruption) uh-huh

so you think eeh well I could never afford (interruption) (unclear)

afford it

so I'll I'll let them have it

that's right

but it's wrong because you're not giving them (interruption) any sense of value aye

you're not helping them you're not helping them no

uh-huh

true

that's the same I mean they have to wash the dishes (pause) I say you can have a pound pocket money if you do nothing in the house that doesn't matter to me you just get a pound if you do nothing in the house

uh-huh

but if you make your bed or you wash the dishes

uh-huh

like he he gets five and she gets seven but if they don't wash the dishes or that I'll put their pound out for them I'm not eh

no

you know (interruption) (unclear) (unclear)

so if they don't do if they don't do nothing in the (interruption) house

house they can have a pound

uh-huh

you know I wouldn't see them not have nowt

no

but eh so it's up to them if they (pause) make their bed I mean their rooms are a tip but their beds are made

(laughter)

you know because that's the the agreement they've got to make their bed they've got to wash the dishes

and do they make their beds properly though

no

no

no usually the the sheets are all squished to the bottom but the quilt is all pulled up lovely and flat

uh-huh

and the pillows is all to hell but he's made the bed because his eh quilt's nice and straight and that

uh-huh

you know but that's the

yes

the thing they've got to make their beds and d they do the dishes like eh twice each a week

uh-huh

and they get their pocket money

yes

but if they don't do their beds or they don't do the dishes (interruption) they just get a pound

they just get the pound and you just give them the pound

uh-huh so eh it's up to them if they want the money they've to ehm (pause) sort of do a little bit (interruption) you know

uh-huh and do they do it all the time

begrudgingly oh aye

(laughter)

and sometimes they don't and eh I'll say 'well you miss missed the dishes twice this week there's three pound'

uh-huh

you know so they've got to sort of eh

yes

you know do it

uh-huh

or oh they say ehm 'oh lend us such and such I I want to go (pause) to the' he's into this Laser Quasar just now you know this laser game where they go to the (pause) place and this thing's strapped on them and

they go where

Laser Quasar it's called

where's that

there's a one eh down (pause) Westgate Road and there's a one ehm over by Saint Cuthbert's field and ehm

what do they do (unclear) (unclear)

it's like they they strap this thing round them and they have like guns and it fires like a a light and if it hits this thing it means like you're dead and but it's like (pause) it's like all dark and (pause) fog and it's like a proper building (unclear)

uh-huh

but it's about three pound for twenty minutes

uh-huh

and this is the thing just now he likes to go there so he'll say 'will you lend us three pound (unclear) because they're all going to (pause) there's about eight of them you m you make teams and you play each other'

uh-huh

and it it's it's like obstacles and that and it's you know

uh-huh

it's (pause) cushty according to him anyway

it's cushty

cushty and eh you know I'll say 'no I I haven't no money I can't lend you any money' 'oh you have got money' I'll say 'but if I had no money I couldn't (pause) go out' I say 'I've got to work for my money'

(unclear)

'and what I've got I've got to make'

make do

'I bet you could still lend us' I say 'I can't lend you it' I says 'if you've got no money you can not go out the same as me'

(unclear)

I says 'your dad'll not go out on a Friday if he's got no money' 'that's different that's different you've always got money' I say 'aye but I've always got money because I know what I'm supposed to do (interruption) with it'

do with it that's right

you know I divn't get it and spend it on the first day

no

the way the way like they (interruption) do

do that's true (unclear)

burns a hole in his pocket him (unclear) get gets the money and it's away

I know

you know

I know (pause) our (NAME)'ll say on a Sunday night 'I'm going to the town (pause) ehm the cash point's closed I've just been on to the cash point and it's closed' and I say 'oh' and she'll say 'well lend us' I says 'well how much do you want five' 'five'

mm

'I can not I can't go to the town with five pound mam'