Interview with Wendy Marshall (nee Porter b.1953) and family on growing up in Bletchley, attitude to Londoners, education and employment.
Bletchley Grammar School, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, from playing field, 1978. Illustrative photograph supplied by kind permission of BCHI (Accession Ref: BLE/P/1491).
Wendy Marshall and her family talk about moving from London to new houses in Bletchley in the 1950s (on Whaddon Way and the Saints Estate). Gordon Ridgeway was born in Great Horwood, later moving to Bletchley, and recalls the building of the new houses in Bletchley, and working as a milkman.
The interviewees discuss the various schools they attended; they remember some resentment of London incomers at Church Green and Holne Chase schools, from both local children and teachers. But at Rickley Lane School London incomers were in the majority and there were no problems. They describe the difference between regimes at Bletchley Grammar and Secondary Modern schools and the staff’s expectations of the pupils.
They then discuss employment related health issues at Metallins where the use of cadmium could cause industrial poisoning, and illnesses among brickyard employees resulting from brick dust. They comment on the limited medical services available before Milton Keynes Hospital was built. One participant talks of his involvement in the Union movement at Cigarette Components; they also mention the three day week in the 1970s and support for the miners’ strike.
They mention entertainment in the 1950s and 1960s, particularly events at Wilton Hall including the Rolling Stones concert. When Milton Keynes was announced someone commented ‘we looked forward to it from the point of view of the children having more to do than we did’. However, remembering all the local shops that have disappeared, particularly the Co-op, their general opinion is that Bletchley has been ‘ruined’ and will continue to deteriorate. Their opinions vary about Milton Keynes, some like it but others in the family think it has no proper centre.
Creator
Marshall, Wendy and family
Extent
1 audio tape cassette
Contributor
Lindsay, Sheila
Reference number
BBB/002/003
Comments about this page
Great to see the old school and the pavilion.
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