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Mr Edwin B |
| Interview Number: 41 |
| Other Interview Material |
| Sex: |
| M |
| Year Of Birth: |
| 1890 |
| Place of Residence: |
| Norton, Durham |
| Family: |
| 1 sister. 1 sister died before he was born. Parents expected him to be a good citizen. Father a generous man, used to help people. |
| Marriage: |
| 1920 |
| Housing: |
| Born in Chipping Norton and after 3 years moved to Chapelhouse to be near grandparents then back to Chipping Norton until 1914. He next moved to Addlestone in Surrey due to change of father's job then moved back due to high rent. His parents later emigrated to Australia. |
| Education: |
| Father went to Mutual Improvement classes at Baptist Church to further his education. EB went to C of E school then to newly built British School for boys. Very good teachers who taught astronomy and other subjects beyond the curriculum. Later attended WEA classes in engineering drawing and later still philosophy classes. |
| Parents' Work History: |
| Father was a joiner and coffin maker in family firm and went on to work at Bleriots Motor works as a joiner, mother a spinner in a tweed mill - very dirty work. |
| Work History: |
| An apprentice joiner for 3 years then 6 years as an improver in the family building firm, run by father and 2 uncles, doing high quality work. Information on saw pit. He joined the army where he qualified as a physiotherapist then like father, worked at Bleriots on airplanes then went to Gt Western Railway works. He returned to the family firm then started up own business with a brother in law. His wife headed a sewing department. |
| Final Occupation: |
| Carpenter |
| Political Affiliation: |
| Father was a radical, follower of Gladstone - always voted Liberal and was very hot headed about politics. Uncle was first working class mayor of Chipping Norton. EB also a Liberal. |
| Religious Background: |
| Baptist. Grandfather paid for own seat to fund the chapel. Sunday school, morning and evening services. His wife was a Primitive Methodist and sang in the choir. Forbidden to do gardening or sewing on Sunday. Some antagonism between C of E, Baptists |
| Occupational Class: |
| Skilled Manual |
| Leisure Activities: |
| Father and son both in temperance choir. All the family sang at home, both children played piano and gave vocal concerts. Recalls visit to Earls Court Exhibition. Used to cycle to look at historic monuments and go for walks. Introduction of pushball - 5 ft in diameter. Took part in local football matches and did long distance running, hares and hounds and gymnastics and weightlifting. |
| Health / Childbirth: |
| Mother sometimes suffered from depression. Father paid into Friendly Society, Sons of Temperance, to cover sick benefit and funerals. |
| Miscellaneous: |
| Extensive information on running of household and childrearing and class. Workhouse boys at school wore distinctive rough corduroy suits. Real distinction between labourers and craftsmen. Father kept 2 pigs, one for family and one to cover expenses. |
| Number of pages in Transcript: |
| 58 |
