| Description | Recording of interviews for the 'Battle of St Ann's' project:
Tracks 1 - 2: the interviews are with Mr & Mrs Priestley, Janet Priestley and Mrs Bolter who are also featured on the previous recordings MS 4000/6/1/66/9 - 10; the interview is recorded in their home. The interviewees are long term residents of the St Ann's area; a study by local social commentators has categorised the houses as 'slum dwellings' and where many residents are living in 'poverty'. The tracks frequently run into each other.
Track 1: A discussion regarding increased rents and housing costs; the quality of recording diminishes/speeds up until recordings become inaudible. 3.52 mins.
Track 2: A discussion of current affairs and community involvement/reaction/engagement in/to national/ international affairs, the discussion then returns to community reaction to local issues; the quality of recording diminishes/speeds up until recordings become inaudible. 3.13 mins.
Tracks 3 - 10: the interviews are with Mrs Halling (Mrs Hardy?); the interviews continue on MS 4000/6/1/66/12, the interview is recorded in her home. Mrs Halling (Mrs Hardy?) is a long term resident of the St Ann's area and with her husband organises youth groups such as Guides and Scouts for the area. The tracks frequently run into each other.
Track 3: A discussion about her personal history, the history of the area and how it has changed. A discussion regarding how her upbringing/schooling was away from St Ann's and in her opinion when she returned aged 14/15 you could tell it was a poorer area. 3.06 mins.
Track 4: A discussion about her parents and how they viewed the area of St Ann’s, this flows into a discussion about the changes that happened whilst the family lived in the country. 3.31 mins.
Track 5: A discussion regarding the rougher areas past and present. This is followed by a discussion about residents and landlords who fail to look after properties, then moving onto the clearance of the area. This is followed by a new discussion about her schooling. 2.34 mins.
Track 6: A new discussion about subsidence in the area due to the coal mines. The discussion returns to her schooling, employment history, marriage, family and her husband who is employed as an engineer at the University. A new discussion regarding changes in the area after the War and onto the beginnings of the St Ann’s scheme when properties were bought up by the Corporation and then boarded up. 3.56 mins.
Track 7: A discussion about how the character of the area has changed, the greater impact is on the old people who find it hard to cope and are frightened by the changes. The discussion continues regarding how some ex-residents are happy to have moved because of the better facilities and improved housing, but some have found it hard to settle and miss St Ann’s. 3.06 mins.
Track 8: A discussion regarding the redevelopment: the lack of consultation with the community and that the development is affecting the whole/clearing the whole area not just the 'slum housing'. The discussion continues regarding the different resident committees being formed to coordinate action over issues within the community. The discussion continues covering her opinion that the local councillors have done a good job. 2.59 mins.
Track 9: Discussions regarding the lack of concern for the existing community in the redevelopment project: that no attempt is made to renovate buildings, yards and church; this flows into a discussion about the church being demolished. 3.45 mins.
Track 10: A discussion about Brownies and Guides, she and her husband have been fund raising to build a new hall for Scouts, Guides and Rangers to meet in, flows into a discussion about youth work. 2.37 mins.
Total: 32.41 mins.
Dubber's reference number: PLA KF5760018280
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