OH/036
Reference code
OH/036
Level of description
Item
Title
Huxley, Mary
Date
6/8/96
Scope and content
Recorded by M. Phillips
Born 1922 Brentford\Rothschild School, Hogarth School\Marlborough School\Macleans, bottle washing\In service in Acton\Leisure activities \1 tape only\Born 1922, 3rd daughter, in Brentford. Schools (1) aged 4 years Rothschild Infant School. Slates, slate pencils, coke stove in middle of classroom. (2) about 6 -7 yers old Rothschild Junior School. Moved to Chiswick - offer of flat for family (5 children) (3) to Hogarth School - 1 year. Not very happy there. Moved again to Syon Lane in Isleworth (4) to Isleworth Town School, Twickenham Road. Walked to & from school. No school meals. Home to dinner. Empire Day celebrated at school. Heston & Isleworth made a borough. (5) to Marlborough School - new building. Uniform. Very pleased. Domestic science including cooking. Sport including swimming. Very impressed with history teacher. 1935 - Silver Jubilee - George V & Queen Mary. 1936: Death of George V. 1936: Abdication of Edward VIII - implications expained at school. 1st job (c 1936) Macleans: factory hand. Wages 13/- per week. 8am-6pm, 1 hour for dinner. One week's holiday after 1 year's service. No sick pay. Worked on moving belt, later on bottle-washing machine, also filling of containers of toothpaste. Details given. 1937: Coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Excitement about this. 2nd job: 1938 - in service in Acton. Very nice family, very happy there. Further information about Coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth - Mrs Huxley's father applied for 2 tickets only to Guildhall. Leisure activities in 1930's: Games with other children in the streetand each other's gardens; walking (used to take food with them) - along canal or the river - sometimes to Isleworth Ferry - swimming; winter - neighbours round fireside; anecdotes from the past (much poverty around); Brownies, Guides; Church, Sunday school. Congregational church, brentford and later to Syon Mission; church organised parties, concerts, teas, opportunities for acting in plays, singing competitions. In hospital - before NHS - infected thumb. Teenage leisure activities in 1930's: cycling - saved up for cycle -£3-10s. went with crowd of other teenagers. In summer cycled to camping site. C 1939: applied for job at Cherry Blossom. Worked in canteen 8am-5.30pm at Boston House. Details of work including preparation of the food and cleaning of cutlery. Cherry Blossom very caring firm, provided: baths while at work; club house, library & room with sewing machines, evening activities, dancing, opera, keep fit; Rangers; camping near Staines some weekends; club house at Great Chertsey Road Factory - sports facilities. Mrs Huxley later transferred to canteen there. Cherry Blossom also provided access to doctor and dentist. Free drinks while at work. Further reference to Heston & Isleworth becoming a borough in 1930's: Duke of Gloucester laid commemorative stone outside the Firestone factory. This stone was in place until 2-3 years ago when pavement was repaired. Stone now in GPM - Mrs Huxley would like this stone replaced. Information about procedures carried out at Smiths Crisps where Mrs Huxley was employed in the 1940's.\Artefacts: 2 sheets of 4 generations of Mrs Huxley's family in Gunnersbury Park, 1952, c 1980, 1996
Born 1922 Brentford\Rothschild School, Hogarth School\Marlborough School\Macleans, bottle washing\In service in Acton\Leisure activities \1 tape only\Born 1922, 3rd daughter, in Brentford. Schools (1) aged 4 years Rothschild Infant School. Slates, slate pencils, coke stove in middle of classroom. (2) about 6 -7 yers old Rothschild Junior School. Moved to Chiswick - offer of flat for family (5 children) (3) to Hogarth School - 1 year. Not very happy there. Moved again to Syon Lane in Isleworth (4) to Isleworth Town School, Twickenham Road. Walked to & from school. No school meals. Home to dinner. Empire Day celebrated at school. Heston & Isleworth made a borough. (5) to Marlborough School - new building. Uniform. Very pleased. Domestic science including cooking. Sport including swimming. Very impressed with history teacher. 1935 - Silver Jubilee - George V & Queen Mary. 1936: Death of George V. 1936: Abdication of Edward VIII - implications expained at school. 1st job (c 1936) Macleans: factory hand. Wages 13/- per week. 8am-6pm, 1 hour for dinner. One week's holiday after 1 year's service. No sick pay. Worked on moving belt, later on bottle-washing machine, also filling of containers of toothpaste. Details given. 1937: Coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Excitement about this. 2nd job: 1938 - in service in Acton. Very nice family, very happy there. Further information about Coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth - Mrs Huxley's father applied for 2 tickets only to Guildhall. Leisure activities in 1930's: Games with other children in the streetand each other's gardens; walking (used to take food with them) - along canal or the river - sometimes to Isleworth Ferry - swimming; winter - neighbours round fireside; anecdotes from the past (much poverty around); Brownies, Guides; Church, Sunday school. Congregational church, brentford and later to Syon Mission; church organised parties, concerts, teas, opportunities for acting in plays, singing competitions. In hospital - before NHS - infected thumb. Teenage leisure activities in 1930's: cycling - saved up for cycle -£3-10s. went with crowd of other teenagers. In summer cycled to camping site. C 1939: applied for job at Cherry Blossom. Worked in canteen 8am-5.30pm at Boston House. Details of work including preparation of the food and cleaning of cutlery. Cherry Blossom very caring firm, provided: baths while at work; club house, library & room with sewing machines, evening activities, dancing, opera, keep fit; Rangers; camping near Staines some weekends; club house at Great Chertsey Road Factory - sports facilities. Mrs Huxley later transferred to canteen there. Cherry Blossom also provided access to doctor and dentist. Free drinks while at work. Further reference to Heston & Isleworth becoming a borough in 1930's: Duke of Gloucester laid commemorative stone outside the Firestone factory. This stone was in place until 2-3 years ago when pavement was repaired. Stone now in GPM - Mrs Huxley would like this stone replaced. Information about procedures carried out at Smiths Crisps where Mrs Huxley was employed in the 1940's.\Artefacts: 2 sheets of 4 generations of Mrs Huxley's family in Gunnersbury Park, 1952, c 1980, 1996
