8370 research outputs found
Sort by
Linda Harding Oral History Interview - Exhibitions
No full textExtract from full interview with Linda Harding (Linda_Harding-30th_August_2017). An oral history interview from Linda Harding, Outreach Officer at Leicester Museum.She talks about the temporary exhibitions that are put on in the museum and how they try to represent the community as much as possible
Christine Hardy interviewed by Rose Mooney, 1 April 2017
No full textChristine Harding (CH) interviewed by Jenny Escritt (JE), 11 April 2017. CH describes early life in Countesthorpe, Leicester. Father owned a shop there, CH attended Wyggeston Girls School. Attended Northern Polytechnic in London to study Domestic Science in 1946. Comments on return to Countesthorpe, married in 1953. Description of father's shop, newsagent, sold many items. Had a small library in shop, called it 'Argosy'. Mother went into shop at five o'clock to get paper deliveries ready, employed local paper boys. Very hard work but made a good living. Mother sold shop in 1960 and bought house in Aylestone. CH describes work within hospital and school catering. Worked at Lancaster Boys School, cooking 600 meals a day. Mentions nutritional guidelines, called for twenty percent protein value in meals produced. Recalls designing menus, approved by education office in the Newarke, no junk food allowed. CH expresses pride in her school meals then; high standard. Mentions children's favourite meals, roast dinners, pudding favourites were 'stodge' - steam puddings and custard. Mentions exceptional cleanliness in kitchens, anecdote about one colleague cleaning. CH describes cooking methods; made the pastry on site for pies, everything cooked fresh, nothing pre-cooked brought in. Had fridges and deep freezers. CH mentions little time spent together as family during childhood due to shop commitments. Reflects on education, didn't enjoy Wyggeston Girls' School, emphasis at school on being a 'lady'. CH describes catering at City General Hospital in 1950s. Mentions cooking with steam, 30-40 gallon pots, same protein values as for schools. Enjoyed catering, working alongside other married women. Comments on relatively minor impact of war on life post 1945
Doris Oliver and Brenda Brewster interviewed by Jenny Escritt, 5 July 2017
No full textDoris Oliver (DO) and Brenda Brewster (BB) interviewed by Jenny Escritt, 5 July 2017. BB describes being injured as a child, diagnosed with Tuberculosis, lived in General Hospital from two to seven years old. Felt it a forward thinking hospital, children all together, had school, Brownies, and Guides. DO visited often, describes bus journey to General Hospital. Young children not allowed into the hospital but could look through the window. BB came home in 1945, Mother went to work, corset making. Father was a tailor and worked from home, looked after BB. Describes life after hospital: difficulties in getting a wheelchair as army prioritised. DO and BB describe living next door to Northampton Arms Pub, recall horse and carts delivering coal to cellar. Big cellar used as air raid shelter. Detailed description of local area, Piggott's Yard, Wyggeston's House, Golden Lion Pub. Description of childhood games, would play tea parties at Roman forum. Describe their house as a slum, was damp, had mice, no lights upstairs, gaslight but not allowed to use as expensive, candlelight only. No door but old blanket to stop draughts. Kitchen had red tiled floor: had gas stove and sink. Only tap in the house and used for everything. Father knocked hole through wall to put hose pipe through to water the garden. Used soldiers' helmets on the wall as hanging baskets. Describe shopping in 1950s, bought most clothes from the market, took own bottle to get it filled with hair lacquer, recalls haberdashery on Silver Street, which is now the Malcolm Arcade. Discuss socialising in Leicester, dancing, going to cinema, roller skating. Went to the Cameo Cinema often, The Palace Theatre, Opera House in Silver Street to see pantomimes, Astoria dance hall. Mentions seeing big bands e.g. Lonnie Donegan, Marion Ryan, Ray McVay and the Band of Today. BB recalls seeing Cliff Richard at De Montfort Hall. DO comments on education, attended King Richard Infant School until eight years old, then All Saints School. Describe playing in Abbey Park, Castle Gardens, played 'Cops and Robbers' in St Nicholas Street. Brief description of going on holiday to Mablethorpe and staying in caravan. Describe taking bath on Sunday night, tin bath in the kitchen. No copper to heat water. Used pans on stove and a kettle. Same water used for everyone's bath. BB aged 15 when left school, mentions job at Frears Biscuits, Woodgate in 1953, then went to Cascelloid on Abbey Lane making plastic objects e.g. toys. Paid by the gross piece work. Met husband at Cascelloid dance, married 1956, moved then to new council house in Eyres Monsell in 1959. First and fourth child born General Hospital, second and third at home. Describes maternity care in hospital. DO describes leaving school at 15, began working at Cascelloid. Next went to Pex: examiner for nylons, and then tights. In 1959 had a child. Went back to work at Kempton's as a cutter for dresses. Later bought a house in Anstey. BB describes council house, had its own bathroom and running hot water. DO husband in RAF, received marriage allowance from the RAF. DO and BB listened to radio; 'Worker's Playtime' at dinner time, Dick Barton at night, plays, variety shows, 'Life with the Lyons', 'It's That Man Again', Archie Andrews.File replaced with redacted file on 23.01.2024 by Colin Hyde
Derek Seaton interviewed by Colin Hyde, 1 September 2017 and 20 September 2017
No full text[File 1 begins: 00:00:00] Interview with Derek Seaton [DS], born 1930 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire. Family in hosiery trade locally, father a painter and decorator. Talks about Wigston in 1930s, family, lack of money. [00:12:25] Talks about effect of World War Two (WW2) on family. [00:17:30] Talks about school. [00:22:35] Explains father's breakdown at end of WW2, mention of ECT treatment at Carlton Hayes; describes first job, as clerk; brief digression on Victorian attitudes. [00:31:55] Detailed memories and opinions of National Service in Royal Artillery, includes brief digression on Leicester City FC's FA Cup run of 1949. [01:03:20] Describes employment at Leicester City Council in finance but moving to Hillcrest Hospital as clerk. Describes Hillcrest.
[File 2 begins: 00:00:00] DS comments on local politics, attitudes to nuclear weapons, leisure, playing football for Wigston Fields, eating out in Leicester. [00:23:00] Talks about buying a house, ending job at Hillcrest. [00:33:00] Memories of the Coronation in 1953; comments on liking Leicester, local prosperity; anecdotes of winters of 1947 and 1962/63; brief memory of helplessness at Cuban missile crisis.
[File 3 begins: 00:00:00] DS talks in detail about local jazz music scene and Monk brothers in particular. [00:15:00] Talks in detail about becoming a social worker, duties, housing conditions in Leicester, effect of creation of Social Services in 1971, also of creation of unitary authority in 1974. [00:49:05] Outlines move to Royal Leicester Society for the Blind, duties as deputy director; retirement and return to social work in 1990s, mention of rehousing policies as residential homes closed. [00:58:50] Talks about becoming writer and 'civic historian'.
[File 4 begins: 00:00:00] DS continues talking about 'civic historian' role, local history writing. [00:16:50] Talks about hobbies, travelling, coping with being in mid-eighties.File replaced with redacted file on 23.01.2024 by Colin Hyde
Janet Ingall interviewed by Colin Hyde, 7 July 2017
No full textJanet Ingall (JI) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH) at interviewee's home, 7 July 2017. JI describes early life in Leicester, England. Mother was housewife, father was clerk but unemployed during depression until joined General Post Office (GPO) as night telephonist. Briefly recalls house in Grove Road as sparsely furnished. Brief recollections of start of Second World War, living in Braunstone and listened to neighbour's radio, practice air raid siren went off almost immediately. Recalls excitement at start of war, Leicester Blitz noisy when in shelter. States that GPO had a company doctor who came on bike to visit, treated her bronchitis, rest and recuperation was cure. Brief mention of American camp, popular with children as had chocolate, gave rides in Jeeps. Reflects on food rationing keeping people thin. Recalls living on Canville Road at end of war, party in street. Father grew vegetables in garden and allotment, could barter with surplus. Talks about leaving Wyggeston School, bad health led to missing time, went to Western Park Open Air School for a few months and then to secretarial college. Took scholarship at Braunstone Hall, passed, got grant, went to work age 15. Comments on winter of 1947, coal was in short supply so house was cold, people cleared pavement in front of house. Mentions going to Commercial Services on London Road for typing and Pitman shorthand. Comments on interest in music, liked concerts at De Montfort Hall, went to Vaughan College to study Music, History. Met women who introduced her to Capital T Club; describes this as war-time canteen that became meeting place for young people. Comments on type of person who went to Capital T, thought of themselves as 'Leicester's Left Bank', were anti-establishment, politically left. Talks about developing political views as mother chatted with neighbours. Mentions family attitude to Churchill: good for war, not the leader for peace or for change. Reflects on Conservatives winning in 1950s and feeling they were responsible for problems before the war. Recalls topics of debate at Capital T; author Colin Wilson went there. Mentions working at Chamber of Commerce, saw how local businesses worked. Mainly businessmen rather than women. Brief mention of Kendall's, outing to Skegness allowed office and factory to mix. Recalls that nuclear weapons were seen as bad but opinions on nuclear power were less clear; went to first 'Embrace the Base' at Greenham Common. Mentions had children in mid 1960s. Met husband at Capital T, married in 1956. Reflects on the 1950s as a period of optimism and improvement for ordinary people. After marriage bought house in Glenfield as was small village near Leicester; then estates developed. Had children in Round Hill Maternity Home, included an advice clinic. Mentions Cuban Missile Crisis - doesn't recall believing it would happen. Reflects that less interested in politics after children born. Comments that advances made since the 1950s seem to have reverted more recently.File replaced with redacted file on 23.01.2024 by Colin Hyde
Peter Barkby interviewed by Colin Hyde, 11 April 2017 and 3 May 2017
No full textPeter Barkby (PB) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 11 April 2017 and 3 May 2017. [00:00] PB details early life, born in Leicester and grew up in Braunstone. Called up to forces aged 18 during Second World War and left in 1947. Comments on education, attended Alderman Newton's school, left aged 16, went to work at Faire Brothers on Rutland Street, returned to job after war. [08:50] Recalls 1945 election - Parties not extremely different, grandmother very political, 'devastating' result for many people. Suggests Churchill won on personality rather than policy in 1952; country didn't feel socialist at the time, there was support for nationalisation. [19:00] Mentions married in 1948, worked at Faire Brothers up to retirement. Reflects that after war, people who had been at company a long time felt they had priority over young people returning. [24:25] Talks about transition out of forces, mentions living conditions had not improved up to 1950; hardship, little money. Mentions was a Clerk when married, worked with ex-servicemen, became Senior Clerk when Office Manager retired. [00:00] Describes work at Alexandra House, storage and distribution, raw materials, finished goods. Recalls Freeman Hardy & Willis building was burnt in bombing, was told wardens threw bombs off roof. Manufacturing done on Wimbledon Street: laces, parachute cords. Faire Brothers departmentalised production during the war to minimise bomb damage. Mention of copper dome being stolen. [08:48] Mentions after war, atom bomb meant no more movement of troops, waiting for de-mob. Asked parents in-laws to occupy his house to keep squatters out. Describes first house lived in with wife, very cold, no heating, in Western Park area, tram to work, semi-detached three bedroom, struggled with money. Mentions wife was nurse until had children, PB received poor pay at Faire Brothers, tried to move but too young, early returning troops had experience before war, but PB and others didn't. [19:35] Talks about being President of Conservative branch for short time, canvassed for elections, liked characters such as Barnett Janner, saw poorer side of Leicester through this; West Park Street. [23.50] Mentions Sir Ronald Tree was the Harborough MP, although Leicester mainly Labour. PB suggests Conservative Party lacked imagination. PB knew Ken and Thelma Bowder, helped get Ken elected after several failed candidates, Ken was solicitor for PB's purchase of house. [00:00] Talks about Young Britons Foundation, met in church rooms on Brazil Street, played games, PB was living on Fosse Road at this time. Recalls R100 airship over Leicester, watched from Fosse Road outside house. Comments on ambitions as a teenager, wanted to go to university but limited opportunities during war. Mentions father was a Fishmonger in Leicester Fish Market, had fought in First World War, few jobs on return from war, brother in law offered him job as Fishmonger, worked in this trade for rest of his life. [18:30] Talks about army training in 1943 and returning to work. Comments on discipline within business, returned to Faire Brothers in 1947, worked in textiles, shortages of raw materials, talks about coupons given. Mentions Faire Brothers were Mercers by description. [00:00] Comments on little change at Faire Brothers throughout 1950s, later became more venturesome, made arrangement with American company to develop items in shoe trade. [07:40] Talks about Leicester in 1950s, increase in population, service personnel from overseas came to live in Leicester, refugees and German ex-prisoners of war. Brief mention of untrained labour shortages in 1950s. Describe living in Western Park in 1950s, would shop in centre of Leicester at Joseph Johnson's, Fenwick's, Adderly's, Simpkin and James. Mentions cafes visited in 1950s, Winns Cafe, Turkey Cafe, The Oriental. Recalls dance halls opening again after war, PB and wife went dancing at the Bell Hotel, De Montfort Hall. Talks about Brucciani Cafe, baked their own cakes, popular with teenagers. Mentions going to cinema often, half a crown for ticket and chocolate box, Westleigh Cinema, Olympia Cinema, Roxy Cinema. [23:50] Mentions having children, first born in 1950. Little instruction given on child rearing, pregnancy wasn't spoken about. Mentions life became easier in 1960s, younger generation negotiated for greater pay in work place, increase in new small business as old industries declined. [33:50] Talks about modern conveniences, priority was furnishing house, bought three piece suite from shop in Kingston upon Thames, had it delivered to Leicester. [00:00] Mentions holidays with family, recalls first holiday abroad in France in 1960s, stayed in tent, bought new car. Would regularly holiday on east coast of England, stayed in caravan. Mentioned went on further holidays to France, visited Paris on business occasionally. [04:00] Talks about his initial involvement in local Conservative politics, friends were members, parents had been Conservatives. Mentions going canvassing on Hinckley Road and West Park Street, housing was a concern for Leicester residents, both parties wanted to improve on housing. Comments on changes witnessed to canvassing, suggests biggest change was telephones, sees this as an intrusion. [13:10] Reflects on schooling, played cricket in Western Park. [17:00] Recalls announcement of outbreak of Second World War, father made shutters for windows, listened to wireless, recalls feeling anxious seeing pictures of Warsaw bombing
Ghost sign for Hewitt, Hipwell & Jeffs on the corner of Cross Street and Law Street, 2017.
No full textGhost sign reading 'Hewitt' on the corner of Cross Street and Law Street. According to a 1928 trade directory, 2 Cross Street was listed under the company of Hewitt, Hipwell & Jeffs, wholesale hosiers
Ghost sign for Marstons on Green Lane Road, 2017.
No full textGhost sign reading 'Marstons'. Between 2004 and 2008, the sign was covered with a new sign for 'Rupali', but in 2024, this modern sign was removed, revealing the ghost sign. This sign likely refers to J.H. Marston & Sons, Marstons Model Toffee Works whose factory originally resided on East Park Road
Ghost signs for Picture Post and Wills's (W.D. & H.O. Wills) Cigarettes on Lutterworth Road, 2017.
No full textGhost signs for 'Picture Post' and Wills's (W.D. & H.O. Wills) Cigarettes. This sign comprises several layers, and deciphering which layer each sign is on can be difficult. To the left, the word 'Leader', painted in blue, is barely visible, but it is unclear what company this may refer to. Beneath this sign are the words 'Wills's "Capstan" Cigarettes'. There is also a ghost sign for the newspaper 'Picture Post' which has severely deteriorated. To the right, the sign reads: 'Wills's "Star" Cigarettes'. In the past, a ghost sign for 'Sweets', written on a yellow ribbon, was visible, but it has since entirely deteriorated. There is lettering painted over the 'Wills's' sign on the right, but the word is not legible: '...eadmers'.
Wills's (also called W.D. and H.O. Wills) was founded in 1786 as Wills, Watkins & Co. by Henry Overton Wills and Samuel Watkins in Bristol, UK. They became tobacconists and snuff-makers, eventually becoming the first mass-producer of cigarettes in Britain. After several partnership changes, the company was renamed W.D. and H.O. Wills in 1815. In 1894, Capstan Cigarettes, unfiltered British cigarettes, were launched. In 1901, Imperial Tobacco Co. was formed after a merger with Wills and several other British tobacco companies. Imperial Tobacco Co. remains one of the world's largest tobacco companies, but the Wills brand was withdrawn from the UK in 1988. Wills's Star cigarettes were manufactured until 1954.
'Picture Post' was a photojournalistic magazine published in the UK from 1938 to 1957. Described as the UK's equivalent of 'Life' magazine, 'Picture Post's' editorial stance was described as liberal, anti-fascist and populist, campaigning against the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany. Conflicts in the leadership of 'Picture Post' and declining sales led to the closure of the magazine. However, 'Picture Post' has now been digitised as the Picture Post Historical Archive
Ghost sign for Callis & Richards on Belgrave Avenue, 2017.
No full textGhost sign with the names 'Callis & Richards Decorators'. There are two visible layers to this sign: one with their names displayed diagonally and the other horizontally at the top