| Description | An interview with Mary LOUEY, a widow woman with three sons, who is a Catering manager, born in Shanghai and now living in Birmingham. Mary LOUEY’s father was a Eye Consultant, born in China and her mother a Chef born in China. In the interview, she talks about …
'MARY LOUEY MS2255/2/111 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore
01
My name is Mary Louey, born in Shanghai ,China….Moved to Hong Kong as a baby. Father was an eye specialist , mother was a nurse. Moved to England because of father’s job at a hospital in Bradford.
1.27 Returns to Hong Kong annually.
2.10 Schooling in Hong Kong. Predominantly English taught.
2.50 Moved to England in 1967.
02
Contrasts England with Hong Kong.
1.36 Moved directly to Birmingham. Feels as though life suddenly came to a standstill….in the late 60s….Birmingham was very industrial…
2.21 Rented a terraced house on arriving in Birmingham.
3.16 Memories of Irish neighbours.
3.55 Attended evening classes.
4.40 I don’t think there was a lot of Chinese here at the time, so the community was very small. My father had a few friends….my mother was interested in doing takeaway because most Chinese here seemed to be into the same thing….
03
Family bought a second home and rented it out to Chinese restaurant staff.
43” Difficulties for mother setting up in business. She had to employ a chef…she had a couple of Chinese ladies on the counter. To begin with, she doesn’t even pay herself…because it’s really struggling business….Eventually she becomes the chef herself and learns a little English…she goes to market and does her shopping. First she used to point her fingers and then people get to know her….
1.50 A small Chinese supermarket existed in the early 70s.
2.20 Thinks that there wasn’t much competition between takeaways.
2.48 A lot of Irish come into the takeaway….It was in Stratford Road…
3.24 I used to help her 2 nights a week in the takeaway working on the counter….a lot of people are friendly and some are drunk….but my mother seems to handle it quite well…although she can’t speak the language….And the next day they come back because they feel guilty….Of course there’s one or two kids pinching things….
4.18 I don’t think there’s a Chinatown to be honest…there’s one or two Chinese restaurants…one quite huge in Queensway….Slowboat was by Park Street where the market is….
04
Became pregnant. Stayed at home.
38” Story about meeting her first husband.
1.36 Close to sister-in-law and lived nearby.
2.04 Marriage ended after a few years. It was quite difficult for me because my parents were against it. They think if you have young children you should put up with it whatever….Every day I don’t feel happy at all….At the end of the day my family respect my choice.
3.13 After divorce the family supported her.
3.26 So I still haven’t been working for a few years….when my children are a bit older I go out to look for a job….
No social life at all.
05
When I was in Hong Kong since I was a little girl…I was always in entertainment side….wanted to be a television star…. Parents objected. Story about being asked to play a part in a TV show.
2.03 Popular amongst the Chinese community. Details the work she does.
3.23 Children at nursery school.
4.53 Travelling by bus in the city.
06
07
After children grow up a bit she feels that she would like to work. Sister-in-law looks after the children.
1.06 Going out for job hunting, I haven’t got a clue….there’s a few Chinese supermarkets already opened up…I just walk in one day…. Story about asking for a job.
3.30 Got the job at the beginning of 1980s. Became more involved with the community.
4.13 A Chinese restaurant/ wine bar opened up in Hurst Street. Became assistant manager after 6 months.
08
Met second husband whilst working at the wine bar. Encouraged Mary to set up in business with her own restaurant.
1.52 The restaurant was called Satay House. Demolished after developments at Arcadian Centre.
2.33 The restaurant trend is so fashionable now. Especially young, professional people just love to finish work, go for a drink and a meal….at least twice a week…
3.22 Describes working at the restaurant.
09
Lived in Harborne with second husband. Not a strong sense of community. Contrasts with where she now lives in Stirchley. Story about German neighbours.
2.04 Children’s identity. Apart from looking a little bit Chinese, they are not Chinese at all. They speak English to me. If I speak Cantonese…they understand what I’m saying, but the answer is going to be in English….They like Chinese food, but they have nothing to do with restaurant business, takeaway business….
3.01 My mother asked me to come to her house….you want to have my takeaway, here is the key….I say no, take it back please. Sell the place. I saw her struggling big gallons of oil….
3.48 Children’s careers.
4.11 Story about becoming involved in community work and the Chinese Women’s Association.
10
Continued.
2.30 Ethos of the Chinese Women’s Association. Activities and meetings organised.
4.16 Story about taking a group of elderly Chinese women to Spain.
11
Continued.
1.08 Stories of how difficult it was in the past for Chinese women in Birmingham.
2.38 Contrasts with young Chinese women today.
4.00 I really miss Hong Kong films….we don’t have video in those days, so occasionally there are Chinese people hire out the cinema house….that night will be packed with Chinese people to watch a C-class film from Hong Kong…Not like nowadays with DVD….
12
Pop stars from Hong Kong come to Manchester, London….
51” Feels that Birmingham Chinese are more friendly than in Manchester. Story about shopping in Manchester Chinatown.
2.25 Changes in the city centre.
3.13 Present day activities. Plans to work in a Thai restaurant in Nechells.
ENDS. |