| Ref No | MS 4000/5/1/8/2 |
| Title | Sound recording of Charlie Burke of Birmingham (1918-2001) describing his childhood, family and Birmingham c1880 onwards |
| Level | File |
| Date | 07 April 1970 |
| Description | Recording of interview by Charles Parker of Charlie Burke (CB) of Birmingham (b.1918) describing his childhood, street names and trades, local pronunciation and attitudes to death.
Track 1: Duration (min/sec): 4.43 Description of track: [loud noise at beginning of tape] CB talks about local businesses and refers back to how unbuilt the area was when he was a child. A 'fruiters' called Smiths opened in Shakespeare Road; the proprietor was originally from Harborne and had his own pea fields in Harborne; CB recalls how clean the air smelt in Birmingham; the area behind Selly Oak was countryside; as a child CB would hold the horses of the 'gentry' as they had a drink on Sunday lunch times
Track 2: Duration (min/sec): 11.01 Description of track: CB recites a poem ['Brummy Jack of all Trades'] on trades and streets in Birmingham; CP notes his intonation and dialect and they discuss the trades in Birmingham
Track 3: Duration (min/sec): 4.01 Description of track: CB talks about looking forward to a visiting roundabout and the 5 minute rides; rag and bone man visits
Track 4: Duration (min/sec): 2.55 Description of track: CB talks about other street hawkers; the 'crab man'
Track 5: Duration (min/sec): 2.21 Description of track: CB talks about bullocks who drew carts of beef suet for delivery to the shops. The children would crowd around to see the bullocks and the delivery men the carts would give away 'scottie hats' with paper ribbon attached
Track 6: Duration (min/sec): 4.28 Description of track: CB talks about funerals which were a big local event with horses pulling a hearse; everyone wearing black and having a white handkerchief with a black border; attitudes to death are discussed
Track 7: Duration (min/sec): 2.14 Description of track: CB called his mother 'Mom' and his father 'Dad' or by his nickname from the army 'Pasha' Burke
Total duration: (min/sec): 31.44 |
| Related Material | See also LC/BPL 38 listening cassette of Charlie Burke, Birmingham and recording of Charlie Burke used in lecture at MS 4000/5/2/7/11 |
| Physical Description | Listening copy: 1 x CD-R serial number PF235 S108 5474
Original tape:
Size: 5" tape reel
Gauge: 1/4" tape (0.625cm)
Speed: 7.5ips (19cm/s);
EQ Curve used: IEC
Track configuration: Half Track Mono
Dubbing Date: 12/02 |
| Access Status | Open |
| Language | English |