LevelItem
Ref NoRMB/67
TitleOral history interview with Mrs Sue Walton MBE on 14 July 2015
Date14 July 2015
Extent1 wav file
Name of CreatorUniversity of Surrey, Alumni and Development Department
Buckland, Amintha
Walton, Sue
DescriptionInterview conducted by Amintha Buckland.
No transcript was made of this recording.

00:00-00:23: Introduction

00:23-01:25: Why Battersea College? recalls hearing John Fuller on radio talking about the Hotel and Catering Management course at Battersea College; remembers interview

01:25-02:38: Course content: Describes housekeeping lessons, ironing bedsheets; mentions Margaret Lennox; describes trips to London hotels, Goring Hotel; recalls practical work; mentions Hotel and Catering restaurant

02:38-03:00: Memorable staff: mentions Dan Fortin, Reg Thompson, Alf Armstrong, Philip Nailon

03:00-03:37: Kitchen work: describes planning menus to serve in restaurant; mentions Mrs Canoee, practical cooking lecturer

03:37-04:45: First impressions of Battersea: recalls nerves; remembers friendly welcome; mentions Jill Carpenter

04:45-06:45: Work placements: employed during summer holidays; describes job with Pat Birdie as chambermaid in Grosvenor House; mentions age; mentions future husband, Michael Walton

06:45-08:14: Quality of Life: praises course and lecturers; mentions field trips; mentions degree result and entry requirements; mentions John Fuller

08:14-09:55: Student Life in 1950s: describes halls of residence on Clapham Common; mentions rented accommodation with Jill Carpenter; recalls safely walking home at night; praises life in London

09:55-11:18: Fashions: describes style, mentions wearing gloves; recalls women not wearing jeans or trousers

11:18-11:48: Uniforms: describes student uniforms used in campus kitchen and in Hotel and Catering restaurant

11:48-14:11: Socialising: mentions working with chairman of entertainment, arranging dances and cabaret shows, in Battersea Main Hall; mentions played tennis and rowing on lake in Battersea Park; recalls visiting the theatre in central London, mentions Sloane Square; recalls eating in restaurants

14:11-14:40: Student Accommodation: recalls gender segregation

14:40-16:00 Spare time: remembers visiting restaurants in Surrey and Sussex with Michael Walton, Jill Carpenter and John Scofield

16:00-19:45: After Battersea: describes employment as demonstrator for Kenwood Food mixers, at Ideal Home Show and other events, based in Harrods; mentions trips to houses of customers to perform demonstrations; recalls meeting deputy head of Hotel and Catering department and receiving offer of job as chief steward at Battersea; remembers knowing colleagues; mentions staying for 43 years

19:45-21:20: Role of Chief Steward: describes role; recalls birth of son, Tim Walton, before move to Guildford campus

21:20-25:10: Childcare: Recalls beginning in Guildford in September after maternity leave; describes relationship with Beatty, Battersea store keeper and nanny for firstborn son, Tim Walton; mentions holidays; describes atmosphere at Battersea College

25:10-28:02: Move to Guildford: mentions loss of some support staff during move to Guildford; recalls buying house in Surrey; describes development of campus since retirement

28:02-30:03: Final points: praises employment by Battersea and University of Surrey; mentions Londoners who were support staff on Hotel and Catering Course

30:03 - End
Administrative HistorySue Walton graduated in 1957 having studied Hotel and Catering Management
LanguageEnglish
CopyrightCopyright of the University of Surrey
FormatAudio
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