Interview with June Whitaker (b.1926).
June Whittaker moved to Milton Keynes in 1969 to join her husband who had been appointed to a post with Milton Keynes Development Corporation. After living in Shenley for a year, they then bought their current house. On MK she comments: ‘I felt that there was never going to have been anything quite like it, starting from scratch, in farmland.’ After initial loneliness she began to get to know people through her young son. However, she felt that MKDC was not welcomed by locals: they were ‘frightened of the unknown’ possibly. She describes her part-time post as a show house receptionist with MKDC, which she did for fifteen years. In her opinion, MKDC was always very helpful to newcomers but sometimes promised too much. She talks of the work of MKDC Arrivals Workers to welcome residents; from her experience as a Parish Councillor, it is now much more difficult to get people to help with community activities.
Talking of the changes she has seen, she comments on the improved shopping and the arrival of a hospital, but notes that building community spirit is a greater challenge without MKDC. Commenting on transport problems, she recalls Dial-a-Bus. ‘I still enjoy living in this city but I don’t find it… I don’t think anywhere these days is ideal and what Milton Keynes has got some other places have not got.’ She comments that the ‘great recycling system’ that was built up has recently deteriorated and would like to see that improve.
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