Oral history audio recording of Bernice Taylor Brown.
In this interview Bernice continues talking about her parents and recalls anecdotes they had told her about their courting, their wedding in 1939 and their busy social lives during their marriage. She also tells of her mother’s many travels before marriage and the jobs she took once Bernice was 10 years old.
Bernice recalls life at 170 Church Street, Wolverton in her grandparents’ house until 1950; she was an only child and home routines were fairly strict (no friends were allowed to visit), but she was very close to ‘Nan’ Taylor. Her earliest memories date from that period, for example hearing the hooters and sirens from the Works, McCorquodales and Deanshanger, and having measles. She also remembers her favourite radio and television programmes. At school she particularly enjoyed history (her teacher Miss Millisham ‘brought history alive’) and loved the musical activities – choirs and the Gilbert and Sullivan productions under Ron Nutt.
Outside activities during her schooldays included dancing (Rosemary Carter School), St John Ambulance, the Youth Club in Aylesbury Street and occasional visits to the tennis club, although she was not keen on sport. Once she and her husband had moved to the Galleon Estate, Bernice became very involved in the New Manor W.I. and associated Drama group and Carnival Club and remembers some amusing incidents there. Both Bernice and her mother enjoyed drama; Bernice refers to her mother being ‘a wonderful character actress’ and has fond memories of the first play she performed in with Beryl, with the New Manor Drama group. After attending a beach mission on a Cornish holiday in about 1976, the family began to go to the Baptist Church in Wolverton, and Bernice also produced carnival floats for them. Peter continued to play for the Tommy Claridge band 2 or 3 nights a week, but later the band split up and he played for other groups.
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