Interview with Dr. Peter Jarvis (b. 1932), about social life, medical issues and West Bletchley Community Association.
West Bletchley Community Centre. Illustrative photograph supplied by kind permission of BCHI (Accession Ref: BLE/P/156).
St Mary's Church, Bletchley showing the original layout including pews. Illustrative photograph supplied by kind permission of BCHI (Accession Ref: BLE/P/495). Original donated by Mrs M Walker.
Dr.Jarvis remembers the public houses in Bletchley; he had at some time, or other been summoned to all of them professionally attending ‘riots or disputes’. Other local entertainment included Sports Clubs, otherwise there was little social activity.
He recalls a real lack of community meeting places in the early days, which caused ‘social problems’. He was instrumental in setting up West Bletchley Community Association and initially obtaining a Terrapin hut where people could meet. He describes the difficulty of obtaining sufficient funds to renovate the historic Rectory Cottages; but eventually they succeeded when the Milton Keynes Development Corporation (MKDC) provided funds. MKDC also began a programme of building small meeting places in local centres, and the situation improved.
He comments on local churches – ‘the most archaeologically interesting church is St Mary the Virgin in Bletchley … but it’s been re-ordered in such a manner as to remove much sense of reverence from the place’. He remembers the vicars Alan Campbell and Harry Headley: ‘Harry was a marvel, he was awfully nice, we used to go to hear him often’. Mention of the Catholic Church (St Thomas Aquinas) leads him to comment on family planning methods and problems, and the eventuality of a reduction of the birth rate. He recalls how the shortage of hospital facilities in Bletchley in the early days caused him problems.
In his opinion Bletchley is deteriorating; he discusses how some regeneration could be achieved. Finally he mentions alternative voting methods and refers to local and national politicians.
Creator
Jarvis, Dr. Peter.
Extent
1 audio tape cassette
Contributor
Doggett, Roland
Reference number
BBB/003/017
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