| Description | An interview with John HESMAN, a married man with one son, who is a Retired local government officer, born in West Bromwich and now living in Birmingham. John HESMAN’s father was a Proof-tester, born in England and his mother a Housewife born in England. In the interview, he talks about …
'JOHN HESMAN MS2255/2/070 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore
01
My name is John Hesman and I was born in 1935 at Sandwell hospital….We moved around the Witton area a number of times until we settled in our final house in 1940. Describes the tunnel back house.
1.25 Both parents had been married before.
1.57 Continues to describe house and furniture (in detail).
02
Describes the kitchen and household appliances.
03
Describes the toilet.
53” Story about visit from rent man.
04
Describes bathing.
05
Continues to describe the Anderson shelter.
53” Story about the neighbours.
2.57 My dad worked in a factory and my mum stayed at home because that’s what most women did. In fact, very few women in the street went to work at all…
06
Father was born in Norfolk. Father’s background.
3.01 Mother’s background.
4.29 How parents met.
07
Story about how parents met.
08
Started school after Christmas in 1940.
Had choice of 2 different schools.
1.10 Story about teacher who was pregnant.
2.30 Evacuated due to fears about typhoid.
09
Continues to describe evacuation.
1.37 Story about being disciplined at primary school.
2.58 From 1940-46 there were almost no male teachers.
3.53 It was decided that John would not sit 11+exam.
10
In 1947 I went to Birchfield Road Boy’s School…boys who went to the school were going to be factory fodder….
2.31 Stories about certain teachers.
11
I did an examination at 14 that gave people the opportunity to do further education….to either go for commercial training or technical training….
12
Father had 3 allotments at Witton and District Allotments Association. Describes the produce grown.
13
Learnt shorthand and typing at commercial college. Describes the environment.
3.05 Sports.
14
I left Aston Commercial college in 1951 at 16….I decided to go in the navy….a possible adventure to see the world…I became a boy amongst men… Trained at Portsmouth. Details his early naval career.
3.47 Contracted TB.
15
Surgery on left lung. Demobbed in 1955.
16
Although I came out of the navy with 100% disability pension…. Had to follow navy procedure.
17
Meeting wife at a dance. Describes the dance hall.
3.06 Anecdote about MC.
4.12 Our sex education at school was totally useless….boys and girls went about as a crowd, they were friends…
18
I think we all went into marriage virgins….This business of sowing your wild oats didn’t filter its way back into the working classes….I don’t disagree with people living together in a stable relationship…
19
Visiting chest specialist.
1.00 Worked at British Electrical Repair Ltd. For 12 months.
1.44 Then worked at Cadwallader’s Shop-Fitting Firm for 6 years.
20
Got married at St. Peter’s Church, Aston in 1956. Son born in October, 1957.
Good relationship with landlady and stayed for 3 years.
2.57
21
Saw advertisement for job at City Council. Remained for 31 years.
3.09 Enrolled at Brooklyn Technical College on Building and Surveying course, stayed for 3 years.
22
Story about mathematics exam.
1.08 I felt that the education system failed me totally and it didn’t harness what was there…. Elaborates on some of the difficulties encountered.
23
Son went to Aston Grammar school.
1.18 I’m glad he went to the grammar school rather than the comprehensive school, not because of any snobbery…I thought that comprehensives at that time were in their infancy and had not established themselves and were too big….nowadays it’s very different…
Discusses grandchildren’s education.
24
I went to work for the Education Dept….It was a shock to the system. I came into an organisation that was very well structured…I was a bonus surveyor…. Describes his role.
3.08 In 1970 I left the Education Dept….By this time I’d got my ONC….
25
I went to this building dept. and it was a lot different to the work I’d been doing…. Describes his role.
2.55 I was going out doing estimates for building surveying work….built up a client base….I was looking after public health buildings… Story about promotion.
26
I was with Social Services until 1993 when I retired on early voluntary retirement.
45” The last 3 or 4 years of my working life were very unhappy and that’s due to the political correctness that was introduced into the dept…. Elaborates on his views.
4.10 The City was operating a policy where it was getting rid of the 50+….
27
Story about last day at work.
2.15 Life after retirement.
28
Because I worked in social services I came into contact with a lot of people…I got involved with the younger disabled at the Beeches in Five Ways….
4.16 Attending church as a child.
29
Became disillusioned with religion after joining the navy.
55” Lived in the same district for entire married life.
3.27 I suppose I’m right-wing….I’ve got very definite views on single-parent families…
30
Responsibility to children.
39” I worry a bit about freedom of movement in the city. I think there are no go areas…. Lists places to visit culturally.
ENDS. |