| Description | An interview with Helen PERKINS, a single woman with no children, who is a Valuation assistant, born in Birmingham and now living in Birmingham. Helen PERKINS’s father was a Step-father - carpenter, born in Birth father from Caribbean and her mother a Housewife born in England. In the interview, she talks about …
'HELEN PERKINS MS2255/2/062
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I was born in 1976 in Birmingham. Mother is from Birmingham, father from the Caribbean.
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Ladywood consisted of all maisonettes when I was little….
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Moved in early 1980s to a flat, then moved back to the house in early 90s.
Explains procedure of being transferred to another place
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Only a handful of people came back to the original place….
41” There were more elderly who lived there before whereas now they’re all young with children…It’s noisier…
1.19 It wasn’t until 2 years later around the early 80s I started the local junior school St. John’s….Previous to this I’d been to a special school in Northfield…I then went to a mainstream school with a special unit….
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Describes the school and its ethnic mix.
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Born with Achondroplasia (dwarf). Explains the condition.
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I got mixed reactions growing up…as a child it didn’t bother me too much….I think the problem started when I was a teenager…being pointed at 24/7….
1.58 Memories of going out into the city centre.
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As far as commuting from A to B is concerned, one time it was very awkward with normal size buses….but now you’ve got those low steps….At one time I wouldn’t go out because I’d constantly fear what people were going to say….
55” Secondary schooling at Ladywood until 3rd year.
1.22 Anecdote about moving to Lordswood Girl’s School.
2.36 I found that even though it was a multi-racial school, there were not a lot of black girls there…
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Went out on work placement one day a week to study for BTEC.
42” I went to Bournville Further Education College where I did a diploma of Vocational Education and then I went on to do a BTEC in Business and Finance…I didn’t do them close to home because I felt that I'd travel a bit further and I’d mix with other people….Story about thinking about racial identity.
2.32 Discusses stepfather and half-brother.
3.03 I’m mixed race…
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Family background and relationships.
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I went to Bournville College in 1992 when I was 16….It was nothing then compared to what you’d pay now…It was not only multi-racial but also within disability as well….Describes the college.
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Unemployed for a while.
37” I finally got a work experience placement in the Metropole Hotel at the NEC…Then worked for a temping agency.
1.24 Returned to college part-time to do HNC in Radio Broadcasting.
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Story about discrimination at Metropole Hotel.
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Describes radio course and fellow students.
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Went on an office work placement. Explains New Deal.
1.16 I then left and went to the Evaluation Office which is where I work now. I’ve been there a year and 6 months…I went to work there for the equal opportunities…
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Explains attitude to the label ‘disabled’.
1.17 When I walk around the streets and it’s somewhere I’m used to walking, it doesn’t bother me whatsoever….Explains how she deals with confrontations.
3.21 I’ve recently moved to Bournville…Describes the area.
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Bournville as a more middle-class area compared to Ladywood.
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Mother experiences harassment in Ladywood.
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Social life.
Frequents Broad Street pubs and restaurants.
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My mother is chairperson of the Dwarf’s Athletic Association which is especially for people below 5 ft…Details the sports played.
2.15 Mother has performed in many films. Helen may perform in Harry Potter.
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Plans for the future. Hopes to learn to drive and adopt an achondroplasiac child. Explains the rules of adoption.
Wants to work in personnel.
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Other projects she is involved in. |