Description | Interview conducted by Lauren England.
00:00-02:21: Introduction: Institutional Management, domestic science course relating to running schools, hospitals and hotels; two years at Battersea College, one year in industry;
02:21-06:01: Why Battersea College? Left school for employment at Kodak in Harrow, hired as canteen trainee, course recommended by colleague
06:01-10:05: Studying after World War Two: recalls limited materials; describes shortage of real eggs; remembers cooking for student canteen; recalls lectures on sewing and dressmaking; describes new look fashion, Dior style, lengthened skirts
10:05-12:47: Food: describes rationing; recalls food was supplied for practicals on course
12:47-15:07: Campus facilities: The Refectory, canteen style, can not remember seating; common room downstairs, the theatre at Battersea; sewing area for course and area for housekeeping
15:07-19:09: Common Room: remembers lots of meetings there and posters on the walls; mentions Olympic Games 1948; recalls membership of Battersea Athletic Club, won Victor Dorum 1949, Matsbar Park
19:09-21:47: Sports: Athletics team, high jump, running; John Swaybee
21:47-25:51: Accommodation: Lived at home; hour and a half commute; lunchtime dance classes in great hall, ballroom; boyfriend member of operatic society
25:51-34:04: Harvest Camps: describes journey to Shropshire; recalls staying in NAAFI building on old airfield; Richard Ness ran camp with wife; domestic science students cooked for the other students; visited Mitten and Mermaid public house in evenings;
34:04-40:43: Socialising: dating several people; campus magazine, Polygon; John Swaybee; married David; date to theatre in London; Industrial Placements: six weeks at University College in The Refectory; six weeks in hospital diet kitchen, Mount Vernon
40:43-46:14: After degree: employment at North London Collegiate School for Girls; Esther Rantzen; jobs board at Battersea; college helped with maturity; Metal Box Factory, assistant canteen manager
46:14-52:06: Living at home: mentions 137 bus; dances at other colleges on Saturday nights, Senate House, University College, Imperial College; evening dress; went to them on boyfriend's motorbike; big bands performed; ball after graduation at Grosvenor House; fog
52:06-53:23: Fog: buses ran through night; conductor walked in front of bus with flaming torch
53:23-01:01:19: Fashion: mentions Dior, long skirts; spare clothes from Aunt; lots of wool; tweed; Ex-servicemen and women at Battersea College; mix of students from different backgrounds and ages; Battersea Park, boating on lake
01:01:19-01:05:31: Dating: Walks in Surrey and around London; left Battersea in 1949, married in 1953
01:05:31-01:08:40: National service: compulsory for men; allowed to continue studies, if passed exams; excused from service for acne
01:08:40-01:18:18: Memories: Polygon newspaper, published weekly, gossip; overworked at times; ended up working for John Lewis
01:18:19 - End |