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Interview with John Dean. Track 6 of 7
No full textTalks about preserving the façade of the Co-op building on the High Street, preferring sympathetic modern architecture, preservation not an issue compared to other factors.
Talks generally about period after 1979: dislike of council house sales, lack of mix of social classes in social housing, Beaumont Leys. Mentions feeling that prime minister Thatcher hostile to public service, Labour councils ‘mellowing’ in 1980s, unpleasant meeting with Kenneth Clarke MP indicating decreasing decorum, Leicester being ‘cuddly’ left wing.
Mentions meeting good ministers as member of RTPI, William Waldegrave being very able. Thatcher ‘effect’ was Labour dominance of urban councils; planning benefitted from this at the time. Reflects that urban funding started with Peter Shore (Labour), Michael Heseltine (Tory) continued this; Leicester saw improvements during this period.
Recalls instance of company making too much noise at night, irritation at having to stop. Comments on balancing act needed by planners, gives examples.
Mentions problems of roads in Victorian cities, example of Hand Avenue
Stuart Bailey interviewed by Colin Hyde, 1 October 2009
No full textTalks about involvement with Leicester's Civic Society from its start in 1971 to present
Donisthorpe Mill, Bath Lane, 2009
No full text12 photographs of Donisthorpe Mill on Bath Lane taken in 2009
Whissendine on the Wind
No full textShows Whissendine Windmill working on the wind for the first time since the 1920s. Owner, Nigel Moon has been working the mill for a number of years by motor producing flour, bread and cakes for sale. He restored the sails himself and this was their first try out
Ghost sign for 'Colour Printers' on Southampton Street, 2009.
No full textGhost sign reading: '...olland & Co. / Colour Printers'. This sign has two smaller signs to the left and right of this lettering, but it is too deteriorated to read
Interview with John Dean. Track 3 of 7
No full textMentions newer generation of politicians regretting advert placed in Ugandan press advising people not to come to Leicester. Talks about situation around planning applications for religious buildings (see also interview acc. 1524), producing guidelines, mentions council owned a lot of land locally, report produced with John Ironside.
Explains early applications had not taken into account necessary factors; mentions in passing that policy changed overnight to protect New Walk. Gives brief example of application for madrassa on Evington Road, of council attitude to helping applications.
Interviewer question prompts digression onto housing in Belgrave, with reference to recent television programme, and example of gaining land where Peepul Centre now stands from Sainsburys as condition of new store being built.
Explains ‘open door’ policy mainly for architects and developers, also met public; example of dealing with builder’s yard in Belgrave, meeting regularly with local woman about it.
Regrets not keeping better records after annual reports dropped.
Names Jeevan Desai as currently doing the work re. places of worship; mutual interest in planning being a bonding factor.
Brief chat about issues covered in previous interview.
Recalls that the housing action area units ran themselves well once they were set up. (Interruption
Interview with John Dean. Track 7 of 7
No full textNames and comments on books referred to in previous session (Track 2, 11.20) – ‘Responsive Environments’ by Oxford Brookes; ‘Towns and Townscapes’ by Thomas Sharpe. (sound of mains switch being turned on)
Talks about flood prevention measures of late ‘60s/early’70s, the ‘Blue Book’ being the strategy. Mentions taking over engineering department, protecting flood plain, final report presented around 1992. Comments on lack of recognition for this work.
Comments on local government changes in 1974 causing manpower shortages but Leicester being lucky in recruiting good people who formed a good team with political support from the likes of Peter Soulsby; states it was the right time, right place for planning. Example of difficulty in recruiting for Design & Conservation until Colin Thompson who carried through the Shires shopping centre, then Meredith Evans.
Briefly mentions: attitude to conservation may have been more sympathetic than many planners; Urban Design Group originating with Smigielski; luck of starting at Leicester with blank sheet; development of ecology and open space, ‘managerialism’ not a good thing.
Points out that Housing Renewal Strategy handed over to housing/planning team for implementation, mentions front walls being rebuilt to good effect in Highfields. Mentions Worthington Street scheme as expression of Wooneven themes proving too costly (see also track 1 1hr 6mins); explains how surreptitiously met transport minister at Worthington St; Chris Gossop now moved on to planning inspectorate, interest in carbon free cities.
Comments that recently invited Simon Thurley of English Heritage to speak at University about housing issues in terraced areas of north, Leicester seeming good in comparison. Mentions making a comment at another talk about need to consider Deeplish Study in Rochdale, expands on issues around this.
Considers the amount of work done at Beaumont Leys, reflects on ‘error’ of housing all being public sector, comments on ‘mystery’ of why housing not developed at Ashton Green until present.
Recalls planning dept. opposition to Loseby Lane proposals in early 1970s, wanting to encourage small shops, discourage tall buildings; comments on lack of high-rise in Leicester with brief mention of Leicester City FC plans, Alexandra House.
Mentions trying to advance conservation within RTPI having noted its lack in planning courses. Explains attitude to this.
Talks about winning the case against Centre 21 (see also track 5 46.55) process which led to Fosse Park shopping centre, issue of investment.
Mentions places of worship strategy being helped by City Council owning land/buildings across city.
Reflects that family not affected much by association with chief planner although the post attracts sniping.
Expands opinions on public service, mentioning pomposity of some early planners, working with Denis McKellan, changing attitudes to public service, gives examples.
Explains situation when retired, comments on how John Phipps ran his department well. Explains further about retirement, becoming consultant for various authorities, example of work done, voluntary work.
Gives examples of continued interest in planning, involvement with RTPI.
Talks about creation of book ‘The Quality of Leicester’, process, co-authorship, possible improvements, brief mention of Terry Farrell, desire for context, passing mention of unfortunate fad for post-modernism. Mentions previous similar publication, 1975. Reflects that not enough time was spent advertising what was being done, even when awards were being won
Graham Bowley interviewed by Colin Hyde, 21 April 2008
No full textGraham Bowley (GB) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 21 April 2008. GB talks about family background, father was a Bricklayer at Whitwick Brickworks. GB left school and went to work at Marcroft Wagons on Thornborough Road as Office Boy. GB was later made redundant from Marcroft Wagons and applied for a job with the Coal Board. Got a job at Snibston colliery in the cost office as Assistant Cost Clerk in October 1967. Talks about education, completed O levels at school, went on to Stephenson College (Coalville Mining and Technical College at the time); went on day release studying business studies and gained an Association of Accounting Technicians qualification. Describes role as Assistant Cost Clerk in detail, totalling the tonnage of coal from the day before, later worked in capital expenditure and fixed assets. Worked in office, used a Facit hand-turned calculator to complete calculations. Recalls going down the coal pit once. Mentions pay received, £6 a week. Talk about office facilities, had canteen next to the pit head baths, Miners Welfare was open at the time, played table-tennis. Talks about roles women held in company, one female Tracer, all catering staff were female, two female typists. Comments on unions, was encouraged to join the white collar branch of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Colliery Officials Staff Association (COSA). GB recalls being union rep during the strikes of 1972; strike lasted six weeks. Comments on strike in 1974, believes strikers returned to work too quickly. Reflects on his time as union representative, felt it was a thankless job. Comments on changes to technology, computer centres used, Cannock computer centre responsible for materials, printers changed. Talks about colleagues and managers over the years. Talks about hierarchy within organisation, skilled roles and officials were held in high regard. Comments on Welfare centre, colleagues could meet to watch sports, take part in events, toast celebrations. Recalls September gala at Coleorton, each pit had their own float. Mentions company outings to Derby. Reflects on strikes of 1974, left pit and went to work at Coleorton Cost Office, mentions pit had more of a family dynamic. Stayed at Coleorton till 1990, took redundancy. Recalls period in which coal reserves were diminishing in Leicester. Mentions he moved to capital expenditure and began recording the asset value of different pieces of equipment used in mining, controlling the fixed asset register for properties. Mentions had little contact with men working in the pits. Reflects on the speed of the demise of the coal industry
Margaret Fletcher interviewed by Colin Hyde, 9 June 2008
No full textMargaret Fletcher (MF) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH) at interviewee's home, 9 June 2008. MF describes family background with regards to mining, father was a 'Pony Boy' at Bagworth colliery from age of twelve, extended family also worked in mining industry. Mentions left school at age 16, went to work at a builders in Ravenstone for two years, then became Secretary at Coal Board, joined Snibston Colliery in 1947 after nationalisation of mines. MF had qualified as short hand typist. Mentions Jabez Emerson was the Group Manager of all the Leicestershire collieries. Talks about her duties as secretary. Comments on Mr Emerson as a manager, recalls taking statements from miners in infirmary with Mr Emerson after explosion in mine. Mentions eventually moved to Whitwick colliery and later South Leicester colliery, left work in 1957 to raise family. Talks about family, first daughter born in 1958, second daughter born in 1968, returned to work as part-time wages clerk at Whitwick colliery. MF comments on differences between the collieries she has worked at. Recalls father himself washing in kitchen sink after work, no bathroom, mines later installed baths. Describes her role as Wages Clerk, visited various collieries to pay out wages, armoured car for money, miners were paid on weekly basis. Mentions wages, earned £12 a week working at Coal Board. Suggests women at the Coal Board mostly worked as secretaries, typists, canteen staff. Comments on changes witnessed in her role across the years, suggests technology increased, used photocopiers. Recalls strikes, miners at Bagworth were preventing people going into the mines. MF expresses her sadness at the loss of the mines, made good relationships with other women working at Coal Board, had regular outings together. Comments on food served in the canteen. Mentions serious accidents were common in the mines, had medical room on site. Mentions many men and women in North West Leicestershire worked in coal industry
Robert Berkin interviewed by Colin Hyde, 9 June 2008
No full textRobert Berkin (RB) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 9 June 2008. RB briefly mentions family connection to mining industry, father was a Miner, RB started mining in 1955 at Snibston colliery. Mentions father didn't want RB to work in mine. Describes his first job as Loader in detail. Talks about potential accidents that could occur in mines. Describes change from steam winder to electric winder. RB felt young men could earn better money in the mines. Talks about conditions in the mine. RB later worked in 'pipe gang', working in high levels of water, pumping water out of mine. Recalls 16 weeks of training at Whitwick colliery, completed first aid training. Mentions later left the mines to work in Co-op. Recalls his return to the mines, was offered job Snibston colliery at the time of its closure, went to Rawdon colliery in South Derbyshire, left in 1990. Talks about strikes at Rawdon colliery, large police presence at mine, picket lines, damage to local property. Comments on miners' galas, vegetable shows, RB won first place with a marrow. Comments on dangers of mining, many were injured, story about man getting killed by cutting machine. Talks about change in machinery and technology in the mine. Recalls riding in cage, miners would have to place faith in winders. Mentions previous manager of Snibston colliery. Talks about Snibston colliery closure, suggests there is still equipment that has been left in the mine. Mentions lots of men went to work at Asfordsby colliery after Snibston colliery closed