| Description | An interview with Bill SHREEVE, a married man with one son, who is a Retired gas engineer, born in Birmingham and now living in Birmingham. Bill SHREEVE’s father was a Gas worker, born in England and his mother a Japanner/Housewife born in England. In the interview, he talks about …
'BILL SHREEVE MS2255/2/108 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore
01
I was born on 1st November, 1918….Extended family. Gives details.
He was youngest member of family.
1.26 Father worked for City of Birmingham Gas Dept. Also a street bookmaker. Describes father’s beliefs and character.
4.25 Born in Nechells. Working class upbringing.
02
Describes the area he lived in as being like a small, self-contained village.
1.09 Neighbourliness.
3.01 Story about meeting a man who commented on his father.
03
Describes his house.
2.45 Feels marginally better off than other families in the area.
3.37 Vivid memories of his time at Cromwell Street School. Elder siblings set a good example.
04
47” Story about a teacher from the school visiting the gas works and inviting Bill back to the school for a day.
05
It was in the late 1970s that I went…The teacher wasn’t present and even when the teacher came in all the children left their desks and clustered around me which I just couldn’t understand because I’d been so accustomed to the discipline of my day…the utter silence when the register was being taken…
06
I was at Cromwell Street School from 1923 up till 1930 when there was a change to the structure of schools…. Moved to Charles Arthur Street School.
1.09 System of teaching different to his former school.
07
Story about his headmaster recognising Bill’s potential.
08
I left school in 1932 at the age of 14….Given a school leaving certificate.
1.39 Went to work in a small factory in Nechells. Given responsibility early on in the job.
09
10” Had a friend who worked at Burman’s. He was able to help Bill get a job there in the production dept. but the atmosphere wasn’t conducive.
1.17 Father helped him to join the City of Birmingham Gas Works.
2.29 At the interview it was suggested that he take a course at the technical college.
3.39 In 1938 moved into the drawing office as a general dogsbody.
10
In 1939 sent to join the Royal Engineers when war broke out.
Sent to Berkshire.
11
Describes the environment in Berkshire.
Memories of cycling in the Midlands.
12
Sent to Yorkshire and Northern Ireland.
Not part of a frontline unit.
13
Story about being encouraged to become a teacher but feeling incapable.
3.30 Returned to the Gas Works fitting office.
4.45 Attended a technical college in Brighton.
14
Completed Higher Grade Certificate in Gas Engineering in 1946.
15
Married in 1942 and son born 18 months later.
1.27 We were called upon to make these sacrifices….the working class people…what would they have to go back to….to being wage slaves…
2.13 Had lived at home before the war.
16
I couldn’t say I acquired my left-wing politics in one fell swoop….Elaborates.
3.25 Seldom necessary to involve union in work matters.
4.30 Sympathised with the Communist Party but never a member.
17
Story about a meeting with a Communist Party Member.
1.16 I went into Key Books in Dale End and they said go and see Dr Bradsworth in Highfield Road….
2.08 Reasons for joining the Communist Party.
18
Describes his role at the Gas Works.
19
Switched from being a shift supervisor to day staff.
20
Appointed to position of Assistant Engineer.
40” Saltley and Nechells Gas Works had been amalgamated.
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Changes in the Gas Industry.
22
Windsor Street was the last works to be closed.
23
Story about being shortlisted and interviewed to run the works.
24
Retired rather than take up the position in 1977.
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I was a NALGO member and a representative….when I was at Windsor Street Works….We had a strike and for a strike to occur in the motor car industry or the mining industry…but it was almost unheard of in the gas industry…
28
That was in about 1978.
29
About Saltley Gate I maintain, and quite correctly, it was not Saltley Gate where the confrontation took place….Explains what happened.
30
I’ve always been interested in Trade Unionism even as a schoolchild….from a historical viewpoint…I automatically became a trade unionist and I’m not a religious man….(Recites a poem)
31
Continued.
32
Although I had, however crude, some idea of trade unionism in my early days…I hope I’ve gone about furthering the cause of trade unionism…and what trade unionism can do for everybody….
55” Involvement with Communist Party .
33
Time spent at Key Books. Mentions individuals.
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36
I was involved before I had anything to do with Banner Theatre Group, with something that was a forerunner of Banner. That was The Levellers and Charles Parker was the organiser and the brains behind this, and it was also connected with Centre 42….arose from Resolution 42 to Trade Union Congress of that year where it was sort of deplored that the working people were now seen to become addicted with bingo and the like, instead of taking notice of their oral tradition and the tradition of working-class entertainment.
1.36 I started off as being a projectionist….Parker…made it clear to us, don’t just stick in one role…you can be a singer, an actor….Elaborates on Parker’s theories.
4.30 People with disparate views came together to perform.
37
People who were shy were given confidence at Banner Theatre.
38
25” Lists the different industries targeted by Parker for his series of programmes.
39
When Centre 42 closed down that was not the end of things….Charles Parker changed the name from The Levellers to Banner Theatre Group and went on in the same sort of genre to produce stage and theatrical activities…over a wider range of subjects….
1.22 I left the projection and went on stage as a performer….
40
Tribute to Banner Theatre.
41
Political work since retirement.
One thing that attracted me was The Midland Pensioners' Convention….through NALGO and Unison….I feel that pensioners have been treated very unjustly to say the very least….Gives views.
2.36 I’m also a member of the Birmingham Senior Citizens Forum….
42
43
Living in Shard End.
I lived here for nearly 50 years and I don’t think the changes have all been for the better. When I first came….it was like heaven….like a breath of the countryside….shopping centres were non-existent. These have improved, but what I do deplore…is the state of the streets- litter….
1.25 All the houses were brand new….purpose-built by the council…
Feels that the standard of living has improved, but the quality of life has decreased.
44
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46
Comments on his son and the difference in his life compared with Bill’s.
47
Involvement in boxing.
1.49 Recites a poem about boxing:
“Scorning all feud and treacherous strife….
2.51 Now, not only with the sheer commercialisation of boxing, it has undergone a change…I’m against it now…
ENDS. |