The National Forest’s LANDshapes project interview with Edna Hughes

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LANt032 Edna Hughes
LANDshapes Oral History interview summary

In this captivating recording meet a remarkable lady from Ibstock. Edna Hughes well remembers playing games such as "…tick, snobs and hopscotch…down Meadow Row" and going 'door knocking'"[We] tied two doors together and knock each door". One of eight children, Edna recalls "Me mum used to have two or three washing days a week cos there's that big a family - and it used to be the dolly pegs and tubs - no electric washer…it were a hard life I tell yer - and you had to pull your weight". Listen to Edna's memories as she reminisces about her teen years and how she spent her weekends with her friend Edie Whitby "Saturdays and Sunday - it all depended - you know, mostly Saturday night, cos you hadn't got money to go anywhere - pictures or anywhere, so that's where we used to go, down Ibstock - monkey parading" and find out more about her job as a platelayer for British Rail during the war "We used to walk…from Ellistown Pit down to Thornton Bridge - and we used to go putting sleepers in…we used to do all the maintenance - taking the plates off, oiling them, putting them back…and do the whole length both ways…I was never so happy as I were when I went on the railway".

Interviewer: Roger Kitchen.
Interview Date: 14/04/2005
Landshape Zone: Leicestershire and Derbyshire Coalfield
Parish: Ibstock
Location: Ibstock, Leicestershire,
Date of birth: 28/03/1925
Location of Original: Originals held with The National Forest Company
Reference LANt032

Last updated: 15/9/2005
East Midland Oral History Archive Web maintainer
This document has been approved by the head of department or section.