Interview with Patricia Frances Flinn (nee Sharp b.1929) about moving to Bletchley from London, family life and education.

Patricia Flinn moved from London to Bletchley in the 1950s, and has lived in Wolverton since 1985. She and her husband had five children, and were living in one room in a halfway house in Neasden, so they applied for London overspill housing. Her husband took a job as a railway signalman when they moved. They got the money for the removal costs from the Royal Naval Association. It was marvellous to have a 3-bedroomed house and garden on the Saints Estate. She recalls neighbours at the time, all struggling for money, but everyone helped each other; they were ‘all in the same boat’.

Social life was very limited – they used to go out for walks or by train to Bedford. In the early days she talked mainly to neighbours, so all her friends are London incomers. They settled well because of they appreciated the better accommodation, but none of the family in London followed them.

She talks of her children’s education at Holne Chase School. They’ve all done very well and she feels that Bletchley has really been good for the family. Shopping was difficult with a long walk to Bletchley and irregular buses; she recalls using the mobile shop and asking for credit. Expectations for young mums in her day were not high, nowadays she feels times may be harder for them.