7360 research outputs found
Sort by
Frank Barsby interviewed by Rose Mooney, 1 April 2018
Interview with Frank Barsby [FB], born 1929 in Leicester. Worked at Faire Brothers (shoe company). FB started in an office and then winding; mother worked in office below; compares pay. Comments on Palace Theatre and local cinema. Lived on Wheat Street; describes what remains of the street after the war. Description of pubs. Brief description of Boot and Shoe Club. Married 1953; discussion of getting a mortgage, furniture and moving houses often. Worked in factory running machines; discusses pay; wife worked as tailor. Describes family holidays in England and then abroad (Ostend 1962); description of holidays abroad, using public transport, trips to London; football matches. Speaks about childhood; brother took him to matches; step-father plasterer. Description of train stations in Leicester. 1948 National Health Service (NHS) introduced; description of trips to doctors pre-NHS; discussions of sick clubs; description of hospitals; disliked Hillcrest. Left school in 1943; hard to get job in winter and got laid off; made army socks and peanut yarn for the war due to shortages. Describes school in St Matthews and Taylors Street; worked at 14 after school. War had no impact on school life. Brief discussion of refugees from larger cities came to Leicester. Brother was in the air force and shared films in forces. Describes bombings in Leicester. Discusses that in his field men did not take jobs from women as it was a women's job. States that people changed more than the place changed. Discusses dad's death; dad experienced shell shock and being gassed in the First World War; dad still worked after this experience
Maureen Partridge interviewed by Colin Hyde, 12 February 2018
Maureen Partridge (MP) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH) at interviewee's home, 12 February 2018. Describes early life in Whitwick, talks about family, her father and grandfather worked for colliery; family moved house often with changing jobs. Talks about father's accidental death in detail; drafted into coal mines during Second World War, killed in mine. Talks about passing Eleven-plus, attended Ashby Grammar School. Mentions issues of social class at school. Wanted to become Nurse but mother couldn't afford the books. Describes getting job at Marshall and Snelgrove in Leicester, was taught how to speak and behave with customers; many customers had accounts. Wore black dress to work, discrete makeup. Made own clothes, bought fashion patterns and fabrics. Thursday was half-day, visited historic buildings such as Roman mosaics. Mentions meeting her husband through youth group, would go to Theatre Royal, Brucciani's, went dancing in Whitwick rather than Leicester. Talks about choral music; states performed at event at De Montfort Hall conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent. Mentions leaving Marshall and Snelgrove after two years as no career progression, went to work in shop in Loughborough. Married in 1958 started family; lists children. Talks about being unable to get a house, not getting on council list, having to live with parents in small house. Mentions moved into farm cottage with no piped water in 1959. New house in 1962 that then subsided; modern houses were being built at that time but wife's income wasn't considered for a mortgage. Recalls winter of 1947, doors being blocked, her Mother had concessionary coal so stayed warm. Story of visiting dentist, cost five shillings, a large proportion of weekly income. Recalls Dr Harris as a particularly strict but good doctor. Story of having first child in Roundhill Hospital, difficult birth, mentions callousness of Doctor. Comments on positive aspects of National Health Service. Reflects on the 1950s as being fun, gives example of church choir and music. Suggests music is important locally, would visit pubs on Christmas Eve to sing before midnight Mass; would sometimes go to church four times a day. Describes Marshall and Snelgrove as useful for meeting different sections of society and learning how to behave. Doesn't think class consciousness has been a major factor in her life
Geoff Fenn interviewed by Colin Hyde, 22 January 2018
Geoff Fenn (GF) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 22 January 2018. GF details early life in Narborough, Leicestershire during Second World War. Story about landmine dropped opposite Carlton Hayes Hospital, suggests bombers were aiming for quarry. Mentions war had little impact on life, other than Saturday evening dances where American Soldiers came. [00:02:40] Talks about parents, both local, father ran agricultural implement manufacturing business. Recalls beginning of Air Raid Precaution (ARP), parents joined, father also joined Home Guard, describes duties; ARP organised pantomime locally to raise money for Leicester Royal Infirmary. Mentions health care pre-National Health Service. [00:13:00] Comments on education, description of local infants' school, at age eight went to school nicknamed 'Bacon Box College'. [00:21:25] Outlines starting work in 1950 at Gimson's as office boy at 47 Welford Road, Leicester. Names other premises at time. Talks about the work; some companies collected wood with hand-carts, no mechanical handling. Talks about National Service; job kept open. Recalls cycling to Nottingham and Northampton, to watch football - left bikes at local houses; brief discussion on routes taken. Contacted by letter for National Service, sent to Padgate, Manchester for kit, then to RAF Innsworth, for square bashing, later went to Compton Bassett for Radio Telephone Direction Finding course (RTDF). [00:36:10] Explains how RTDF worked, designed to direct aeroplanes into airfields. Recalls new method CRDF, cathode ray. Stayed at home an extra day after Christmas and given 'jankers', then went to RAF Leeming until demobbed. Mentions night flying station for Meteor NF 13s, talks about work there, regime less strict than elsewhere. Describes barracks, living with other people from different backgrounds, good atmosphere, used local pub. [00:48:45] Talks about class - pilots often from public schools. Reflects on National Service as a good thing, taught discipline, looking after others. Reflects on down sides, suddenly being away from family for extended periods of time. [00:00] Detailed description of playing in Narborough Littlethorpe cricket club at age 14 with second team. Father was treasurer of club. Comments on teams played, Blaby, Dunton Bassett, and Hinckley. GF was bowler, recalls Asian players began taking part in Leicester Village cricket teams in 1970s and 1980s. [12:40] Talks about returning to Gimson's after National Service, worked behind sales counter. Talks about using long hand to total costs. Later moved to Gimson's at Upperton Road, comments on different departments of Gimson's across Leicester. Learned to drive and became Sales Representative for Gimson's in 1966, recalls little traffic on motorways, comments on national scope of company. Recalls company bought soft wood timber from Russia, timber also bought from Sweden and Finland. Mentions Gimson's looked after vast amount of timber stored at Wetstone for use in event that Cold War escalated. Mentions most timber was imported in 1950s. [30:12] Timber frame houses introduced in 1960s, timber used for roofing prior to this. Comments on changes to industry, maintenance no longer required for hosiery factories as they began to close. Explains how timber was transported. [40:50] Comments on relationships between companies in Leicester, marriages between children of factory owners. Talks about deals made with companies outside of Leicester. Describes competition between timber companies in Leicester as 'cut throat', competing with Scotts, J L Walkers, and Jewson. GF present CH with papers relating to 150th anniversary of Gimson. [00:00] GF presents photos to CH and talks through persons within photos. Talks about 25 year club, employees who had worked at Gimson's for 25 years or more, went for a meal once a year. Presents photos of himself at Gimson's Sales Office on Welford Road, social gathering at The Oriental and programme for 150th anniversary of Gimson's
Rosemary Cramp interviewed by Colin Hyde, 24 April 2018
Rosemary Cramp (RC) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH) at Peaker Park Care Home, 24 April 2018. RC describes early life, born in Foxton, moved to Glooston; Describes family background in the local Langtons area. Father's first farm in Foxton, then to Ivy House Farm in Glooston for rest of childhood. 'The Grange' at Cranoe was 'family' home. Comments on links between villages, railway enabling travel, labourers able to work in other places. Recalls most villages had shops, pub, tradespeople visited villages, took orders, delivered. Travel was restricted; holidays at seaside. Had younger sister, both went to Market Harborough Grammar School. Recalls start of Second World War and arrival of evacuees, mother was billeting officer. Mentions arrival of Italian prisoners of war, three from the south of Italy, stayed on family farm, describes this. Briefly mentions school children from local towns coming for the harvest. Comments on men returning from war not wanting to carry on in pre-war jobs, such as labouring. Reflects on loss of farm labourers after war; current farm contracts all workers. Talks about de-population of countryside and lack of amenities, reflects that the local church is often all that is left. Comments on financial slump in 1920s-1930s, didn't have gas, but did have electricity. Mentions mother came from wealthier family, wanted RC to go to Oxford University but RC wanted to go to London. Talks about progression out of the sixth form, gaining a place at London but being persuaded by friend to try St Anne's college, Oxford University. Reflects on wanting to be a journalist but became interested in Medieval History at Oxford, mentions Anglo-Saxon history was fairly unknown at the time. Mentions becoming don at age 21, although didn't do a PhD there. Comments on coping with male attitudes during her career, gives anecdotes. Notes that she came from a strong women's college at St Anne's. Tells story of finding the Roman building north of Glooston, local rector helping, writing letter to Archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon and receiving reply. Several years later Mr Strongman helped her dig a trench there, Market Harborough Advertiser took a photograph. Mentions read philology but worked in archaeology, Ashmolian Museum helped; ad hoc training; explains that didn't have long period of research until retirement. Notes that her generation of archaeology professors didn't study archaeology as a degree subject. Describes the attraction of the Anglo-Saxon period to her. Comments on 'pecking order' of village life, rectors often Oxbridge educated, prosperous farmers had status, such as her family. Farmers had tennis courts, she joined the young farmers. States the local hunt gave them horses in thanks for using their land. Comments on effect of a rural upbringing; reflects on time at Market Harborough Grammar School and the effect of Second World War on activities at school, suggests that it taught her how to compete with men. Talks about her mother, who took an interest in literature and learning; founded Women's Institute in a hen hut. During Second World War they both experimented with using local ingredients in cooking, such as nettles, rosehip syrup. Mother died young and didn't see RC's success in career, although she encouraged it rather than Father, who acknowledged this later in life, talks about this
Leon Spence interviewed by Peter Wood, 30 January 2018
Leon Spence (LS) interviewed by Peter Wood (PW), 30 January 2018. [00:00:45] LS describes family's military background, father was in Army for 30 years and retired as Captain. Mentions father had served in Ghana from 1940-1942 as Chief Clerk of the Gold Coast, had started off in garrison artillery. Mentions his uncle served in Army and was killed during First World War in August 1918. [00:04:20] States parents met in 1927, father retired from army at age 48 and subsequently worked in social security. Anecdote about mother buying house on Beaconsfield Road in auction in 1946. [00:08:16] Mentions father knew M.E Clifton James and was considered as alternative decoy for General Montgomery during Second World War. Father was later in charge of Pay Office in Newarke Street, wore his 'super fines' to work, anecdote about tile falling off roof and hit metal rim of his peaked cap. [00:14:59] LS describes his education, attended King Richard III School, spent twelve weeks as Railway Porter, was later called up for National Service. Went to Glen Parva Barracks, chose to join Army, Royal Leicestershire Regiment, First Battalion. Recalls cleaning father's buttons, shoes and belts at home and receiving advice from father about how to comport himself in Army. [00:20:00] Recounts his training at Outward Bound Sea School in Aberdovey, Wales. Reflects on Army training, was first taught to march and salute, later trained how to use weapons e.g. guns, bayonet, hand grenades. Mentions enjoyed National Service, married at age 25. [00:33:33] Describes evacuation to Manchester, mother was ill-treated by family they stayed with. LS and family went to London to stay with mother's friend. [00:39:20] Long description of first National Service posting, was sent to Germany, worked in intelligence department of battalion, became Lance Corporal. Comments on maps used to track Army movements. [00:47:17] Describes attitudes of British Army to local German citizens whilst in Germany, LS was often invited to dinners and beer festivals by German colleagues. Describes social life in Germany. [00:50:26] Story about being approached by Adjutant to help uncover personal responsible for pharmaceuticals being trafficked in Army. Story about being approached by Lieutenant Colonel to locate East German spy. Mentions article he had written for German Newspaper. [01:02:17] Describes various Army manoeuvres he took part in, intelligence department was disbanded when LS returned to England. Comments on return to England, living in Nissan Hut in Ogbourne St George, could visit home at weekends. [01:06:51] Mentions was later posted to Sudan, travelled by ship, was responsible for cleaning latrines on board. Comments on countries visited whilst travelling to Sudan e.g. Gibraltar, Malta. [01:12:25] Describes arrival in Port Sudan and travels to Army base. Describes life in Sudan, work was done after sun had gone down. Recalls father's investiture when LS was seven years old, saw father speak with King George VI. Mentions whilst in Sudan was asked by Adjutant to be in charge of Officer's Mess, LS refused and was sent to be soldier in Khartoum, travelled on goods train. Became Guard Commander when arrived in Khartoum. [01:33:09] LS mentions he was given platoon to train, taught them how shoot, take a gun apart and put together again. Recalls as part of training LS and platoon were taken into dessert and told to survive, anecdote about filtering water through hats. Story about getting caught sneaking out of camp at night in Germany. [01:46:00] LS describes returning to England after National Service. Comments on insurrection in Sudan. Further comments on life in Sudan, tea sweetened with ants, relationships with Sudanese nationals
June Davies interviewed by Colin Hyde, 1 February 2017
June Davies (JD) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH) at interviewee's home, 1 February 2017. JD describes family background, her grandfather opened shop on High Street, Leicester. Recounts life in The Coventry Arms pub on Halford Street in detail. Description of both parents, family's lack of concern for money, running the pub, changes due to Second World War. Talks about going to Alderman Newton's Girls' School, Hazel Street Primary School. Talks further about her education, staying on to sixth form, secretarial work rather than factory work, no interest in politics but mention of wealthy uncle who was a Lord Mayor of Leicester. Not affected by winter of 1946/7, generally liked snow on Victoria Park. Details of teenage social life throughout the week organised by local church, curtailed by boys off to National Service and JD leaving area. Mentions Brucciani's as popular with young people. Detailed description of brothers who worked in show business, Mother, going to Blackpool to see West End shows during Second World War, performing with brothers in Working Men's Clubs in Leicester. Details their career through armed forces and then to Germany where JD joined brothers until returning to Leicester when Father fell ill. Mentions health care for Father who paid into a club. Talks in detail about meeting future husband, his work in merchant navy, courtship, marriage, moving around to try and stay with him, settling in Leicester and buying a semi-detached house in Wigston, no furniture. Talks about having an abortion soon after wedding, explains reasons, ignorance of birth control, lack of money a constant concern, having no furniture. Eventually decided to have a child having evaluated finances. Worked at solicitors but lost job when obviously pregnant, got temporary work instead. Explains kept working as much as possible, disliked being at home so got help to look after baby. Talks about lack of advice received when pregnant, describes what happened at the birth. Explains attitude to having more children, creating a social life, the young mothers she knew. Talks about buying new house with furniture, central heating. New house was open plan, which seemed modern. Outlines returning to work, started teaching which disliked. Comments on having 'unexpected' third child, using baby minders. Wanting to 'better' herself she got job in social services running Home Help service. Briefly comments of lack of interest in atomic bomb, Husband being in Suez during crisis. Mentions holidays in Clacton. Comments that mother always said Leicester was clean and had good shops, describes it as an 'elegant' life. Talks about current life and attitude, not dissimilar to her mother, looking forward rather than back
Sheila Saunders and Norman Bakewell interviewed by Jenny Escritt, 19 February 2018
Sheila Saunders (SS) and Norman Bakewell (NB) interviewed by Jenny Escritt (JE), 19 February 2018. SS and NB comment on houses they grew up in together, lived on Overpark Avenue, Leicester. NB provides brief description of National Service from 1946-1948. SS comments on schools attended: Folville Rise, left at 14 years old. SS describes childhood house, story about swinging on the curtains and breaking curtain pole. SS describes first job at Bedingfields factory in Lower Brown Street. Describes work, eight hours, six days a week. Moved to Smiths on corner of Yeoman Lane and Rutland Street making underwear and baby clothes. Mother and sister also worked there. Anecdote about tin pram she had as a young child and women in factory making covers and pillow for it. Detailed description of accident where her hair got caught in a machine and what happened afterwards. Mentions ease of finding jobs. NB describes a near miss accident when he was bridge painting after National Service. Describes various jobs e.g. long distance lorry driver, bus conductor. Description of Father and involvement in accident when he was a tram driver. Inspector visited house and looked after father's injury, they feel his care was crucial to father's recovery. Describe how father looked after their health; example: blowing sulphur down their throats to help keep them clear. Also treating SS's knee when she fell off a bike. SS, NB and family moved to New Parks Estate in late 1940s; Aikman Avenue, new houses, new community. SS states married in 1951, lived on New Bridge Street. Lots of local shops; lists them, pub on every corner. No maternity leave, had to work to live. Husband was long distance lorry driver, had child minder for a while. NB suggests jobs were easily found at time. SS reflects on war years: a time of sharing and trust which continued a little after the war. NB describes family putting up Anderson shelter during the war and subsequent use of it. SS describes it as 'home from home', recalls local bombings. Mention getting first TV on New Parkes Estate, had magnifying device to put on the front of TV. NB reflects on schooling, recalls being at Braunstone Hall School and being hit across fingers with ruler. Both recall father making toys for them. Some description of how furniture was acquired during the 1950s
Rodney Pratt interviewed by Colin Hyde, 15 May 2018
Rodney Pratt (RP) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 15 May 2018. RP describes interest in sport as a child, began playing cricket at Hinckley Grammar School, later played for Leicestershire Young Amateurs. RP mentions Charles Palmer approached him to join Leicestershire County Cricket Club at Grace Road aged 16 years old. [05:30:00] Mentions received very little coaching, would talk about cricket to English Cricketer Willie Watson, discussed bowling around wicket. Recalls being unaware of county cricket ground and score keeping, hadn't considered a career in cricket. Mentions Charles Palmer came to RP's house to ask his mother if he could join the staff at Grace Road, signed as a professional. First contract was three hundred pounds, had to find job in the winter, mentions pay was poor at this time. [15:11:00] Mentions work found in off season, spent two years in Armed Forced, got job at Wolsey Factory. Talks about first impressions of Grace Road Cricket Ground, little interaction between junior and senior players. Suggests team lacked professionalism when first started, little coaching, lack of vision from management. [27:00:00] Little physical training regimes, visited gym on Western Boulevard, mentions team had a masseur. Comments on changes witnessed at Grace Road, new pavilion, changes to ground. Talks about attitude of team, felt like underdogs, had older players. Comments on quality of umpiring, experienced umpires. [40:41] Talks about memorable players on his team, Jack Firth the Wicket Keeper, Terry Spencer, describes team as solemn. Comments on attitudes towards arrival of overseas players, many players from Yorkshire. Talks about conditions at Grace Road, showers didn't work, wooden floorboards in dressing room. [46:30:00] Talks about his cricketing, mentions his skills improved by playing better players, gaining confidence. Comments on introduction of Gillette Cup, first one day cricket event, recalls going to first Gillette Cup final match; Worcester versus Sussex. Mentions fielding close to wicket, often young players fielded there. Comments on experience bowling, had little choice over which end he bowled, would mostly bowl uphill at Grace Road, mentions Terry Spencer wouldn't bowl up hill. Talks about good bowlers played against, mentions best he played was Peter May. Suggests bats are heavier today than when he played. Talks about favourite away grounds, Worcester, Taunton; liked general surrounding and quality of wicket and outfield. Mentions made debut at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, enjoyed playing at Lord's Cricket Ground. Recalls his best performance as Bowler at Bradford Cricket Ground. Talks about his experience as a Batsman. [01:09:20] Talks about fastest bowlers played against, names Frank Tyson as quickest. RP suggests best batter he played with was Willie Watson, describes him as graceful. Comments on best team performances, recalls beating Surrey at The Oval. Describes ending of his career with Leicester County Cricket Team, RP suggests his form worsened. Mentioned worked in Leicester and Loughborough Market in ladies wear for twenty years. Later worked for Express Dairies, worked in office. Recalls stopped playing cricket for twelve months after leaving professional cricket, then played for Leicester Nomads Cricket Team. [01:25:30] Talks about National Service, went to RAF Newton, played in RAF football team. Mentions first twelve months went quickly, was a storeman, captain later let him leave to play cricket. Mentions when playing cricket, he played in Gibraltar and went with combined services to play cricket in Holland. [01:33:27] Talks about relationships between different county sports teams, e.g. Leicester City Football Team and Leicester Tigers. Went to pub with Gordon Banks and Richard Norman. Talks about future of cricket, suggests county championship will finish. RP suggests out fielding has improved greatly but batting and bowling have worsened
Derek Needles interviewed by Colin Hyde, 22 January 2018
Derek Needles (DN) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 22 January 2018. DN describes family background, father worked for British Shoe Corporation (BSC), chauffeur for Charles Clore. Mother worked in grocery store and later Clarkes shoe shop. [00:02:40] Talks about growing up during Second World War. Recalls American Soldiers stationed in Oadby and Wigston, saw them take off for D-day landings. Mentions watching German planes bombing local farms. [00:08:05] Comments on schooling, 40 children in a class, went to Gartree School in Oadby, left aged 15. Mentions became an apprentice plumber, went to college one day a week, later became plumber, enjoyed the work. Recalls National Service was postponed for apprenticeship, started service aged 21. Detailed description of National Service, posted to Royal Lincolnshire Regiment stationed in Lincolnshire barracks, stayed in Nissan hut with 20 other boys, coke stove in middle of hut. Comments on basic training, square bashing, learned to fire guns and throw grenades, room inspections. [00:20:39] Recalls passing out parade, later went to MO centre for vaccinations in preparation to serve abroad. Describes journey through Karachi, Singapore to Malaysia. Talks about jungle training, anecdote about using cigarettes to burn leeches off of body, using water tablets. Mentions was told they were fighting communism in British Malaya, capturing terrorists. Comments on British built camps to capture terrorists, burning villages and moving civilians into camps. Describes duties in National Service, was a storeman, wasn't allowed to communicate with local Malay people. Recalls sending gifts home to family. Mentions returned to Malaysia with wife later in life. Spent two years in National Service, spent relief period in Penang. Recalls fellow Serviceman contracted malaria, Servicemen often had heat rash, had to be careful of snakes, mentions wildlife observed. [00:46:29] Talks about Malaysian Independence, describes transition as quiet, recalls celebrating Christmas in Malaysia. Comments on discipline, regimental marches, was asked to stay longer in Malaysia but declined. Describes journey home, went by plane and got home earlier than rest of regiment, returned to plumbing job. Lists places stationed in Malaya. [01:03:03] Mentions later joined Veterans Association for Borneo and Malaya Veterans, met at Ex-Servicemen's Club. Story about meeting Prince Charles and Camilla at opening of Arboretum and at Sandringham Flower Show. [00:00] Suggests few British people knew of conflicts happening in Southeast Asia when he returned from National Service, wasn't allowed to wear National Service Medals. [03:47] DN talks through photos taken in Malaya. [05:18] Comments on housing estates built after the war by Jelson Homes, mentions encounters with Tom Wheatcroft. [09:18] Married in 1958, took mortgage through insurance company. Suggests working class people could begin to afford to buy houses, wages higher and housing affordable, more estates being built. [18:24] Talks about father and job as chauffeur for Charles Clore. Comments on changes witnessed in plumbing trade, copper pipe used instead of lead pipe. [24:13] Comments on precautions taken to avoid lead poisoning whilst plumbing, would hold sandwiches with piece of newspaper to avoid ingesting lead, few health and safety precautions. Recalls decrease in industry in Leicester during 1960s. [27:40] Describes social life as teenager during 1950s, attended Church Youth Club in Oadby, bell ringing once a week, dances at youth club in Oadby Church Hall on Saturday nights, had to attend church once a month. Mentions went cycling often. [32:32] Talks about health care, families would pay money weekly to Doctor before NHS. Final reflections on National Service, camaraderie amongst servicemen
Betty Dawkins interviewed by Anne Gilbert, 16 February 2018
[File 1 00:00:00] Interview with Betty Dawkins [BD], born 1935 Leicester. [00:00:43] Recalls childhood in the Second World War (WWII). Describes excitement using Anderson shelter, describes 'Mickey Mouse' gasmask. [00:02:34] Talks about father in shoe trade. Father served in Auxiliary Fire Service then National Fire Service in Hull, Rye, London. [00:03:54] Tells story about visiting father in London. [File 2 00:00:00] Continues story of London visit. [00:01:31] Describes home life after father's return from war. [00:05:42] Talks about death of father in 1948. [00:07:02] Describes in detail hard work of mother, changes to family life after death of father. [00:13:42] Remembers schooldays, taking 11+ exam, attending Newarke Girls School [00:16:18] BD left school at age 15. Talks in detail of working as office junior, later trained in use of comptometer machine. [00:25:17] Talks of social life as teenager, going to Green Lane School youth club and Trocadero cinema. [00:26:35] Describes childhood holidays at Skegness and Great Yarmouth. [00:29:37] Remembers early married life in 1954, renting flat on Upper Tichbourne Street, then buying house on Anstey Lane. Discusses the importance of education for family. [00:36:02] Talks of emigration to Canada in 1957, mentions difficulties finding jobs. Returned to Anstey Lane house in 1958. [File 3 00:00:50] Remembers going to Palais de Danse and having tea at Lewis' store in Leicester. [00:02:03] Talks about birth of two children, working at Richard Roberts Knitwear. [File 4 00:00:00] BD recalls life in Post War Leicester, demolition of shops for building of Holiday Inn. [00:02:03] Mentions membership of Leicester Amateur Dramatic Society, learning to apply stage make-up. [00:04:40] Describes in detail working at Richard Roberts in fabric division. [00:09:09] Comments on changes in Leicester. Mentions pleasure in living in multicultural city