| Description | An interview with Angela FOSTER, a married woman with one stepdaughter. Pregnant., who is a Housewife/entrepreneur, born in Wiltshire and now living in Birmingham. Angela FOSTER’s father was a Motor trader, born in England and her mother a Exhibition director born in England. In the interview, she talks about …
'MS2255/2/060 FOSTER, Angela,
01
I was born in Tidworth in Wiltshire in 1960. Father was career soldier for 22 years. Moved around Europe then transfered to Solihull.
1.28 Describes Solihull.
2.40 When father left the army he became a motor trader.
3.36 Attended Haslucks Green Junior School. Then followed sisters to Tudor Grange School. All-girls school, very strict.
02
Didn’t achieve full potential at school, but wanted to work and earn money. Management training scheme at Rackhams. Not what she had hoped, so decided to leave.
1.46 I left school at 16 in 1976….it never occurred to anybody that they couldn’t get a job…. Reflects on need these days for qualifications.
2.35 Attitudes to women’s roles. I feel that I was brought up and educated….women were equal and the laws had been changed….the world was my oyster and I think I’ve been reeling from shock ever since…I don’t think I’ve been discriminated against absolutely by being a woman…. Appalled at preference for boy children.
4.19 After Rackhams, my father got me a job in a travel agency…. Obtained ABTA qualifications.
03
I was becoming very politically activated because I was going to Oxford every other weekend to visit my sister…..
37” Introduced to cannabis by first ‘love’. Left home at 17 to live with him. Story about boyfriend and driving.
2.00 Went back to college and took politics and economics. Began another relationship with a musician. Connection with UB40. Story about arranging a gig for UB40.
04
24” Became pregnant but didn’t realise for 19 weeks. Had an abortion.
1.38 Father committed suicide in 1980. Worst year of life. Discusses family finances. Had appendix removed.
05
Account of being in a car accident.
2.31 Became pregnant again and had another termination.
3.40 Returned to work in travel agency. Earned lots of money. Went to Majorca and worked on boats for a few months.
06
07
Returned from Majorca in 1983…..Story about becoming a croupier at Cromwell’s Casino on Colmore Row. Describes her role.
08
Continues to describe life in the casino.
1.04 Became a waitress at Bobby Brown’s. Enjoyed her job.
1.41 I don’t understand the attitude in our country of the whole service industry not being recognised, being the lowest of the low….
Describes the Bobby Brown set of clubs and restaurants.
4.27 Got a job at TGI Fridays in 1987.
09
Compares TGI Fridays style of training with British style.
Waitressing at TGIs.
11
Continues stories about working at TGI Fridays. Describes typical clientele.
3.00 Returned to Bobby Browns who were opening an American style bar.
4.30 Discovered to be suffering from pleurisy.
12
Met her partner Fraser in about 1987 with whom she had a daughter, Lulu.
59” Worked on ‘Pepsi Challenge’. Describes the work.
2.35 Worked as a market researcher for MORI (1988). The first one they gave me was in Frankley Beeches in Northfield….it was commissioned by Birmingham Housing Dept….on how tenants perceived the housing Dept. and its service…..people said what they thought the council wanted to hear….I was very shocked at some of the places I went into….no running water…..
13
Worked selling T-Shirts at the NEC in the late 80s and early 90s.
1.15 Story about wanting to buy a house.
14
Moved into present home in December, 1988.
Partner left her whilst she was pregnant, but returned.
2.48 I was 29 by that time and I’d been single for a long time….all my peer group were couples….and I wanted a baby….Reflects on how expectations had changed.
15
Story about naming her daughter.
16
Discusses her relationship with Fraser. What attracted Fraser to me was my independence and that’s what killed it in the end….I wouldn’t be the subservient woman.
1.57 Sacked from the NEC.
3.06 I set up a little company called SendaVendor….Describes the work.
17
Continues to discuss SendaVendor.
48” I was in the throes of splitting up with Fraser….and he used to hit me…..surely there’s a line you just don’t go over…..he mentally abused me as well….the only thing you can do is leave….Discusses at length the decision to leave.
4.03 I went to this gig….at Cardiff Park Arms….I had an ‘E’….I’d never had an ‘E’ before , it was past my drug time….it was more younger people who did it….that was in 1993…
18
We used to sell dope, so people would come around all the time buying dope…..but once we had a kid…..I just got really sick of it….
Story about meeting another man.
2.48 Story about evicting Fraser from her house.
19
I opened a shop called ‘I am Spartacus’ on Pershore Road in Selly Park….I tried to bring a bit of culture to Birmingham, which is like trying to bang your head against a brick wall….in those days….
2.26 Story about being attacked by Fraser’s mother.
3.50 Custody battle for Lulu.
20
People aren’t born parents and Fraser had no parenting skills at the time….all the massive mood swings which I’d always put down to alcohol…..was in fact cocaine….Effect of violence on the child.
3.18 Bought another shop in City Centre but got into debt.
21
Continues to reflect on how Lulu has coped with the trauma of parent’s conflict.
1.28 Ended the shop venture in 1998.
2.09 I always smoked dope and I know people who grow it…..I’ve tried as hard as I can to do it the legal way….I don’t see cannabis as community wrecking….Story about growing plants.
3.50 On July 30th 1999 ,5 policemen came bursting through my door….Account of being arrested.
22
Continues account of going to Crown Court. Got 160 hours community service.
1.26 How she met her current husband.
23
How she is completing her community service.
2.16 AIDS frightened me to death….it was this feminist thing, well if you lot can shag around so can I……
24
Reflects on living in a multi-racial society. It’s weird because I always thought of myself as strongly non-racist, but the older I’ve got…..Swanshurst School is very ethnic-orientated….I resent that because this is her country and she’s white….
Debates which school is best for her daughter.
Doesn’t have many black friends.
ENDS |