Interview with female. Farmer's wife. Lifelong resident of Wilstead

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Notes on Audio Quality

There is a pause in the audio from 31 to 48 minutes.

Interviewer

Semeraro, Carmela

Document Type

Date

6 Jun 2002

Interview Date

6 Jun 2002

Biography

The interviewee was born at Little Church Far, Wilstead on 7 June 1926. She had one brother, born to her father's first wife (she was born to her father's second). Her father worked as a farmer. Her grandparents lived in Elstow, where she would visit on occasion. She went to the Church School for infants and Juniors, locally. When the second world war started, she left school to help her father on the farm where they lived in Wilstead. Her brother would go into service with the Army. She would regularly go to church in the village, up to 3 times on a Sunday and she married in March 1948 (Little Church farm where she lived was within walking distance). Later on, she would be chairman at the church and would go door-to-door in the village, welcoming newcomers. She had 6 children, all boys. 1953. Bought first black & white television then. Was married then. Remembers visiting Granddad in Elstow. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)Food deliveries from the International Stores in Bedford, plus a fish man and a butcher. Had an orchard for apples and plums. Mother made jam. Butcher's shop in village, next to post office. Left school at 13 to keep farm going. Father and brother both went into the army for the whole of the Second World War. Numerous evacuee children in Wilstead during war, in Vicarage and around the village. She had 3 from London, one a Jewish boy. (05 mins)Majority of evacuees from Crinkleroot. Some of them stayed in village after war. Some still come back to see people. She was a Red Cross first aid volunteer. At haymaking and harvest time, extra rations were allowed. Made their own butter. Killed a pig. Didn't go too short of food in the country. Father bought Village Farm at the end of the war and the first tractor, a Fordson Major, in the village. (10 mins)Preferred working with horses; "you can't talk to tractors". Father never drove the tractor; brother operated it. Had to plough up field and grow arable crops during war. Married in March 1948. Son was born and father built a house for them. (15 mins)Brother went into partnership with her husband, farming, for 40 years after war. Reflections on changes in society: people live in village and commute to work. Still a community spirit: village celebrations for the Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee (2002) (50th. anniversary of accession to throne). Raised Â£1600. Every child had a medal. (20 mins)Saturday concert and Sunday "Songs of Praise" during Jubilee weekend. She read a lesson during service and carried the Mother's Union banner. Church full of villagers. Also did that for the Millennium celebrations (2000). Fewer children attend Sundays schools these days because parents take them out in the car more than in earlier days. Children less subject to discipline than in her childhood. Family life less structured. She had six children, all boys, of her own. They were keen on sport. (25 mins)Church fete every June. Methodists also have one. Mother's Union visits newcomers into the village and tries to recruit new members. (30 mins)Leisure events in village include bingo in the village hall, a bowls club and barbeques on the Jubilee playing field. Talk of building a new village hall. (32 mins) End of Side B END OF INTERVIEW. Original Interview 60 mins.

Length (minutes)

Copyright and Source Archive

Material sourced from Bedfordshire Archives and Records Service