(unclear) for modernisation (unclear)

ah yeah you're getting moved out soon are you (interruption) (unclear) aye you moving out soon (interruption)

(interruption) (unclear) expecting (interruption) (unclear) he's asking we're moving out soon for modernisation

for the (interruption) modernisation you are yeah

oh aye yes aye

right eh (pause) well eh could you tell us first of all Mr (NAME) where you were born please

I'm working

no where you're b no where you were born

oh Downey Street

whereabouts is that

in Gateshead (interruption) (unclear) uh-huh

Gateshead yes

down in Gateshead is it

aye

is it still up now or has it been

oh no it's all pulled down now

it's been pulled down now

(unclear)

and eh where whereabouts else have you lived you know since then

Gateshead fif (unclear)

eh (pause) (unclear) it was seventeen Davidson Street Gateshead Gateshead

yes

it's Askew Road like

oh aye yes

worked lived there worked and lived all my life there

I see aye h how long have you been living here

many year we been up here

(unclear) fifteen when we moved up here and she's eh (pause) twenty three now (unclear) about eh (pause) (interruption) eight year

about eight year

eight year we've been here

yeah

(unclear) come up here because about (unclear) so then we've got to move all the kids (unclear) (laughter)

I see aye aye do you like living up here you know

oh aye it's all right here aye

it's not bad

no

eh (pause) how does it eh is it better or worse than eh

oh it's better up here

it's better up here (unclear)

aye yes

do you get on eh do you get on well with people up here you know do you get on with (interruption) (unclear)

I dinna bother nobody (unclear)

do you not

no

keep yourself to yourself

this the night watchman (unclear) pension in here but (pause) I've got a bit watchman job

I see aye yeah

I start at five o'clock tonight like till ten

five till ten is it

aye

aye whereabouts is that like

Pemberton's paper mill Half Moon Lane

oh Half Moon Lane aye

Pemberton's paper mill work there

(unclear) different time (unclear) five to ten tonight or from one to (unclear) middle of next week (unclear) from eh ten till (pause) seven you see (unclear)

yeah

(unclear)

that's right yeah what eh how long you been doing that job

this'll be twe twenty five month I only started up there last year in October

yeah

twenty five month I've been there

aye what did

(unclear) last October he started

I got sick of sitting (unclear)

aye

I used to get in the garden you see doing the garden I got s sit up sitting here

yeah

in the house

had you been you'd been retired like had you for a bit (interruption) before

since May

(unclear) you're sixty seven this year

yeah

be about three about two year he's been retired

(unclear) two years

eh can you tell us ehm whereabouts were your parents born as well were they born in Gateshead

oh aye Gateshead as well aye

both of them (interruption) yeah

aye

and ehm what eh what did your father do what was his occupation

well he he (unclear) he got killed in the first war

was he (interruption) yeah

aye

but he was a coal hauler before that you know (interruption) (unclear) coal and that

aye he's (unclear) coal you know them days like

yeah and eh (pause) and you're you're how old now sixty seven

sixty seven

yes aye (pause) and eh have you got any children

(unclear)

we've had we had six

we had six

one died but the other five are still living

yeah where are they all now

two (pause) one the oldest boy's living up Leam Lane

he's married him (interruption) he's the oldest one

and eh (pause) (unclear) daughter lives down in Lavender Gardens Low Fell

oh yes I know where that is aye

she's eh she's eh a midwife and the other two daughters well one's married lives down at (unclear) other daughter was married but just separated living here and have a younger son nine eh twenty just turned twenty so he's eh he's a plasterer

yeah (pause) eh what did eh what did you used to work at Mr (NAME) (interruption) before you retired

pits in the pits

were you

aye

did you do that there all your life

no

except for the war

when I come out the Second World War I was in the Second World War like when I come out I got a job at the pits

aye

been there twenty three year

had you aye

aye

which pit did you work at

Seaton Burn Gosforth (unclear) Gosforth

yeah yes what did you think of that as a job like did you

oh I liked it all right

did you

I'd gan back again if I got the chance

would you

oh aye (unclear) you've got to finish when you're sixty five they'll not s not keep you on

aye you would have stayed on if you could (interruption) would you

oh aye yes it was all right

mm did you

I had I had a canny job you know like

aye

on the butt on the buttons you know when the coals come down the conveyer belts

yeah

yous had to watch them that's all

yeah was that underground or

underground oh aye

(unclear) aye aye yeah and eh what eh what job did you do when you first left school you know what was the first job (interruption) you had

it was in the pits

was it

oh aye fourteen (interruption) before my father killed in the first war aye

when you were fourteen yeah and you were you went straight in the pit

aye over there Redheugh Colliery there (unclear) just down Askew Road there it's closed now like you know

that's right there's the pit field

aye (laughter)

and eh what have you done any other kinds of jobs in your life

oh

you've just eh (pause) well you come out with (unclear) keeping the (pause) camouflage off some of the doors (unclear) month (interruption) (unclear)

aye couple of month just ehm (pause) helping the painter you know because he's he's eh (pause) my brother like used to go round doing the corporative stores painting well you know the black outs used to strip the stuff off the window and that that's all

yeah

aye

did you not eh (pause) was it you didn't find it hard work down the pit did you (unclear)

oh no oh I'd go back if I got the chance (unclear) cannot cannot get back you see

yes

because they're getting good money now you know

yeah yes aye they got a they got a canny rise now didn't they not (unclear) mm

aye

eh h how old did you say how old were you when you left school again

fourteen

fourteen

aye

eh do you think you were glad to leave school or not

oh aye

did you enjoy school though

(unclear) school like (unclear) got job straight down the pit though when I left school like

aye

I was only I was getting eleven shilling a week I was driving a pony like pulling the tubs of coal you know when they tub them taking them away

aye (pause) mm and eh did you have any eh any other education after you left school like (unclear)

no

no no no eh (pause) what eh do you think eh you know do you think education's very important like for well say for kids now you know

oh

do you d do you think your own education was worth very much to you

oh (laughter) (pause) well there's no jobs for kids now is there

oh that's that's true like aye

no like there's no jobs man for them

aye (pause) it doesn't even matter if you have got an education I think

no

well I don't know about him there's no jobs but I think if the kids went out and looked for a work but there's my youngest son now when he's out of a job he doesn't he doesn't just descend and go onto the dole once a week or that for it

yeah

he goes (pause) around every day sear round looking all over the place for (unclear) job he usually ends up (unclear) one in a week's time so I mean if there's work there there's a right to go and look for it

yeah (pause) eh (pause) ehm whereabouts were you living you know when you were when you were fairly young say when you were when you were under twelve you know whereabouts were you living then

oh still down there Gateshead

down Gateshead

all my life oh aye

did you eh did you have a good time down there you know as a kid like would you say

oh I was going about in bare feet selling papers

did you

oh aye snow on the ground aye them days (unclear) shoes us

pretty hard times (interruption) in fact really (unclear)

aye yes (pause) (unclear) couldn't get nowt to eat you know them days (unclear) was on the (unclear) you know to get something to eat much money it cost in them days (pause) couldn't get nothing

(unclear) (pause) can you remember any of the ehm (pause) you know any of the kind of things you used to get up to or games you used to play you know when you were

hm

can you remember any of the (pause) games you used to play or things you used to get up to when you (unclear) a lad you know

oh we used to play quoits and that you know quoits (interruption) (unclear) aye

quoits mm-hm

aye

clay (unclear) clays (unclear) clay holes

aye

like quoits and that oh aye

(unclear)

down there

that's a new one on me that like (unclear)

(laughter) aye

(laughter) new one on me too

(laughter)

aye clay call them the clay holes like quoits you know you used to hoy them (unclear) like a hook you know used to fling them like to get them on

aye

oh aye (pause) but there's a great place over newca didn't go over there like Newcastle call it the Gas Yard you know

yeah

used to play gambling there every Sunday there for money

did they

oh aye policeman used to (unclear) I didn't go over there like

uh-huh

aye they gambled for money every Sunday every Sunday morning aye

aye yeah (pause) it was illegal was it I mean eh

oh aye but the police would be after them the police oh aye

(laughter)

will you two shut up (pause) (unclear)

eh (pause) what eh what kinds of things do you like to do in your spare time now you know I mean (unclear) like well (pause) you're not really free in the nights now (interruption) are you in the night times like but wh wh what eh (interruption) what

(interruption) oh no no just (interruption) just go to bed and get up again in morning for work again that's all

aye

wey aye

what eh wh what kinds of things do you do at weekends and that you know when you've got some free time what sort of things do you like to do

well I'm at work at ten to well till ten tomorrow see (unclear)

(unclear) works at ten till one

you work on Saturdays as well

oh yes Sundays

aye

only get ten pound a week it is sixty four hours I do there (pause) sixty four hours for ten pound

that's pretty bad yeah

it works out though to like works out (unclear) do you put that all to (unclear) you know

yeah

like there's people (unclear) five till ten and then he's on from eh one till ten tomorrow one till two on Sunday it's like a ten hour day he's off Tuesday on w (unclear) on seven till seven (pause) and then he's at on his (interruption) next week he's on ten till ten

(unclear)

ten hour shifts a long time that

aye they keep nineteen shilling off the old age pension

yeah

and they keep about twenty five pence tax

oh (interruption) wey it's hardly worth your while doing it really is it when you think about it

not worth not worth it no

but it it gives you something to do

well my my mate he's he's seventy one my mate what relieves me he's seventy one (pause) he's been there eight year that man eight year

aye (pause) and he's still (interruption) still (pause) plugging on is he

oh aye well he's going to stay till till he packs it in like he does (unclear) like bag of snuff see he's using (interruption) it you see (unclear) take a bag of snuff

aye I see aye

(unclear)

you see he likes the job so

aye

I think men (unclear) that are f like his like ehm been used to working all their life and then when they find they haven't any they do that's when they begin to fret

yes it's true like some people you know they need to need to have something to do yeah (pause) yeah mm what eh well what what what kind of things did you used to do when you were younger you know did you race the dogs like

oh no that's my son in law belongs to his father

aye

I just look after it comes back from work you see

oh I see aye

I take it for walks like

aye

I take it out three times a day it races a Saturday night

aye (pause) is he very good

oh aye a good dog (unclear) Gosforth him

aye

call him big glory up there

yeah (pause) (unclear)

aye

did you used to eh did you used to go out very much you know when you were w when you were younger like you know did you used to were you the sort of bloke that went out a lot or

no no

no (pause) yous used to stay in did you

stay in (unclear) I divn't think much about going out

mm (pause) what about eh watching the television (interruption) and that you know do you watch that

oh I watch the television oh I'll sit and watch that of a night oh aye

what kinds of things do you like to watch on it

oh I like to see the films that's all (laughter)

do you watch the films

aye

(pause) do you do you think most of the stuff on there's good I mean do you think the programmes are pretty good like

oh aye yes

(unclear) okay (unclear) (pause) eh (pause) eh (pause) this is eh is a question we always ask everybody but you don't have to answer it if you don't want because some people keep it quiet eh which way do you vote

mm

which way do you vote

vote

aye

Labour

do you

aye

have you always voted the same (interruption) way

Labour oh aye Labour all the time aye

I don't

(laughter) eh why why do you think it is that you've always voted that way you know

I've always voted all m my life Labour

aye do you do you think they look after your interests like when they when they're in power

oh they done all right last time he give we a rise like Wilson like you know and he's give we a rise the other ones say no they give we a rise

aye

and they let we make let we make (unclear) nine pound ten now so it's not too bad

yeah but eh (pause) do you ehm do you think there's very much to choose between the the two parties you know a lot of people say that they're just more or less both the same

they're all the same what gets in they reckon they're just the same I reckon whoever gets in

aye

do nowt for you

yeah

that's what they say do nowt for you all the same whoever gets in

do you eh do you usually vote eh you know in every election like do you usually bother

eh

do you usually vote whenever there's an election

oh aye (unclear)

yes ehm (pause) if we could just go on to talk for a bit about what we are most interested in like that's the way you talk and that you know and eh what what you think about it ehm (pause) firstly do you think ehm do you think you ever change the way you speak

mm

do you think you ever change the way you speak you know according to like who you're talking to or any other circumstances

oh (pause) I never speak to nobody hardly nobody I don't know nobody round here

yeah so you always talk more or less the same in fact

just the neighbour next door here

aye (pause) do you think you talk in the same way say when you're at work as what you do (interruption) when you're in the house you know

oh aye oh aye aye

more or less the same never change

no

aye eh (pause) and do you think you talked ehm do you think you've talked more or less the same all during your life (pause) or do you think you've ever changed your speech in any way

no no it's I never say nothing

you don't think you've ever changed the way you talk (pause) you think it's been more or less the same

aye I do aye

yeah and ehm (pause) what do you think about eh you know the the Geordie dialect like do you like to hear people talking it

oh aye yes

yeah (pause) do you think you're a very very Geordie speaker you know

I'm not a very good speaker like (laughter)

(laughter) (pause) did you ever used to ehm did you ever used to (pause) correct your children about the way they used to talk you know do you ever

no I never say nothing to them (interruption) never check them no

did you not used to let them t talk any way they wanted like aye

aye

what ehm what do you think about eh you know the other accents of England like you know say Liverpool or Cockney accents like do you like any do you like them or

no (pause) Liverpool

yeah

I've never been down there yet Liverpool

have you not ah but you must you hear people (interruption) on telly

oh aye talking oh aye (unclear) heard them talking about like asking questions you mean on the telly

aye

oh aye

do you like the way they talk

oh aye yes I just like to listen to them like oh aye

okay

aye

aye (pause) what about eh (pause) what do you what do you think about eh (pause) the way the way I'm talking now what would you would you say that I was a Tynesider to listen to would you where do you think I come from

couldn't say (unclear) well I'm a Geordie me like

aye what do you do you think do you think I come from Tyneside as well

aye (laughter) aye (laughter)

you reckon

aye

yeah well you're right like I'm from Gateshead (unclear) (pause) eh (pause) have you ever been have you ever lived away from Tyneside

mm

you know have you ever been away from Tyneside (interruption) for any for any length of time

oh not me no no

(unclear)

except during the war

that's the only time I was away like oh aye seven year in the war

yeah could people usually tell you were a Geordie then

mm

could people usually tell you were a Geordie then

the people like

aye the blokes you know you were in the army with

oh aye

aye

was all (unclear) lot of mates like

aye

well there were about twenty six in a in a section of men you know (unclear) of a night time you couldn't get out you had to do guard you see you couldn't get out

yeah

you see when you're abroad you're on guard just the same take your turn I think it was (pause) four hours on four off used to get

yeah

aye it used to be the same when you were abroad as well (unclear) (unclear) a guard

yeah was there was there blokes there from all different parts of the country like you know did they

oh aye

aye

there was ehm Scotch people as well you know Scotch (unclear) the Hampshires

aye

engineers (pause) there was

and what did you think about their patter like what did you think about the way they talked

oh the Scotsmen I couldn't make them out them (laughter)

could you not

no

couldn't understand them

because we nearly (unclear) used to play the bagpipes them lads it was good actually like oh

aye

we haven't got much time because I've got to get away for work (laughter)

eh oh that's right aye (unclear) yeah