Interview with Kathleen Anne Reynolds

Originally recorded using a dictaphone. Includes the following topics: (00:00) Birth in Driffield in 1944; family’s origins in Whitby and Fridaythorpe (01:22) Father’s tenancy and work on a Driffield Farm from 1940s (03:10) Poor conditions and no amenities in the family Farm House during 1940s and 1950s: Hardship of mother’s domestic work during childhood years - milking, cooking, baking, cleaning and washing (08:10) Mother’s learning of domestic skills growing up. (09:37) Grandparents lives during the depression of the 1930s (10:28) Parents experience of the War: Father’s war work in coal mine (12:15) Childhood health: general good health, dislocation of arm (14:20) Family’s religion: Catholic Church in Driffield, Mother’s activities with Mother’s Union. (17:25) Education: Primary School, Bad winter of 1947, struggles at school (having been isolated from other children on farm), differences between education of girls and boys, passing 11 Plus exam, inability to take up grammar school place, teachers, secondary school, aspirations at school, teacher training at Sunderland (25:25) Driffield during late 1940s and 1950s: nature of society, retail: grocery orders and deliveries, trades and industries (30:20) Career as a teacher: dramatic changes in primary teaching and attitude of pupils since 1960s