[East Midlands Oral History Archive logo]

Catalogue
*
[Link to: new search] [Link to request a recording] [Link to: contact the cataloguer]

 
Interview
1204, LO/551/501
Leicester Oral History Archive Collection

Speaker: Langton, George, 1914 - , Interviewee, Male, Motor Engineer
Speaker: Saunders, P, Interviewer, Male

Summary of interview item: Sketches Leicester childhood playing football, earning money to go swimming or to the Colliseum cinema where piano and violin provided music. Describes work 'splitting stiffeners' at shoe factory. Outlines work progress from apprentice mechanic at Parr's Garage, then to HA Browett's garage, then Gartree Garage, then back to Parr's. Describes duties working with motor racing crew. Outlines work as maintenance engineer at Thomas & Edmunds. Describes working on vehicles for Ministry of Transport during Second World War (WWII), mentions leaving Sheffield on night of bombing. Explains how wanted more money and became service engineer at Frederick Parker's. Anecdotes about patrolling Beaumont Leys in Home Guard during WWII, fire watching. Mentions horses at Thomas & Edmunds, one of whom kicked incendiary bomb out of stable during Coventry blitz. Recalls Leicester bombing of November 1941 as 'eerie', fire watching, anecdote of men getting stuck on roof. Describes Victory in Europe party on Syston Street. Very brief mention of planes overhead on D-Day, brother buying watches from Americans, airfields being turned to farmland after war, American entertainers at Alconbury aerodrome, dance floor at Oriental. Recalls several shops on Charnwood Street.
Place of birth: Leicester
Education: Ellis Avenue School
Marital Status: , Children:
Father's Occupation: Soldier
Mother's Occupation: Hosiery spinner
Location: County: Leicestershire
Location: Town/Place: Leicester
Periods Covered: 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s
Language: English

Recording Date: 21/6/1989
Playing time: 44 mins
Access Restrictions: Full clearance Item Copyright: EMOHA
Summary: Yes
Transcription: No
Copies: yes
Cross Reference:

Page Automatically Generated

Use the browser's back button to return to the previous screen.
Home>>Catalogue>>Search


Last updated: 08/05/02
East Midland Oral History Archive Web maintainer
This document has been approved by the head of department or section.