CD2

(54 mins)

2/1

WORKING FOR MRS ANDERSON / DRIVING TO LIVERPOOL 

Worked at The Close, last one out of Winsford going towards Edbrook, after school until 22, as a gardener for Mrs Anderson. Became her chauffeur at 17. Her son Edward ran Carnarvon Arms Garage. Driving Mrs Anderson around, shopping in Taunton. Driving to Liverpool.

Mrs Anderson felt responsible for him. She always booked room next to hers, and he always sat at the same table with her, it made no difference if there were other people there. She sat in the front of the car. Her husband had been vicar of Winsford, years ago, but had died.

There was a lovely garden, and pony. He loved it there, but had been there 7 or 8 years and wanted to move on. [Back to top]
 

2/2

MOVING ON / CHAUFFEUR'S JOB IN HORSHAM / WILLIAM RATHOLE

He wanted to move on. Took job at Horsham, Sussex, as chauffeur. Advertised in the Times. His employer was in the steelworks. KB had been going to get married, but when he got there, there was no way he was going to take a wife there. Falling out with boss. Great big house, with groom, butler, chef and young girl. Only there 4 months. Describes situation. Employer called William Rathole. [Back to top]
 

2/3

PAY / WILLLIAM RATHOLE / HORSHAM

He was glad to get back. Bought BSA motorbike and rode it home. Got married.

With Mrs Anderson he'd earned £1 a week, earned £2.10 at Horsham. Married and moved to Dulverton. Tells story about William Rathole, who was a steel magnate. First day at Horsham. [Back to top]
 

2/4

WIFE KITTY / WORKING AT HELE HOUSE / WAITING TABLES

Met wife at Winsford, she was parlourmaid for Ann Le Bas' father [unclear, might be grandfather]. Wife called Kitty Hawkins. Born Shillingford but worked at Quarme Farm for Rawles first. They went to work at Hele House as a married couple. Both very happy there. Employer was called Hitchens, they were from Cornwall.

Then he took bad, doesn't know why, and doctor said he was in house too much and needed fresh air. He waited tables there. Was there 4 years. Very happy. 'I loved waiting tables'. Other staff, woman daily and gardener. The Hitchens were a retired couple. He waited on all sorts of people. Lords and Ladies. MPs. One brother was an author. [Back to top]
 

2/5

TORQUAY POSITION / ALBANY WARD / MRS WARD / WASHING CARS

He was fiery. 'I was a bit fiery, mind.' Took job at Torquay. Employer also had house at Croyde. He had 3 cars. Lived in the house. Beautiful. 'It was a beautiful, beautiful house. You never saw anything like it. Even the dog's kennel was all marble.' Employer called Albany Ward. Self-made man, made his money on Salisbury Plain during WW1 showing films to troops in tents. He was a proper gentleman but his wife was the fly in the ointment. Describes situation.

'When I washed the cars mind, I used to have to wash them proper. 'Twas spoke wheels. I used to have to take the wheels off mind, and wash them'.

He was there 12 months or more. [Back to top]
 

2/6

DRIVING TO STROUD FOR FLOWERS / PAY / LOSING WIFE / BUTLER WITH MAJOR WATSON / ENTERTAINING / ABDICATION / CHILDREN'S TOPICAL SONG / BUYING MINEHEAD HOUSE

Mr Ward had big house in Stroud. Had 11 houses. Agent at Stroud. KL would drive to Stroud to get flowers. Paid 30 shillings and all his keep. His wife couldn't get on there and came back ?to Dulverton, [he's not sure] He lost her 42 years ago.

He can't remember where the job was advertised. You went where the work was. There were no jobs going locally. He was ?25, in the '30s.

Then he was out of work and his former boss, Mr Hitchens, recommended them to a Major, near Honiton, who moved to Westhaye [?sp]. He was ADC to the Duke of Windsor. Staff consisted of his wife, who was the cook, and him. He was the butler and waited at table in long tail coat etc. They used to entertain a lot. Big dinner parties.

Employer called Major Watson. Then there was the abdication. Major Watson said children in London were singing 'Hark, hark the angels sing, Mrs Simpson stole our king.' Major W played polo with the Prince of Wales.

KB had already bought a house in Minehead, which became empty. So they left the Major and came to Minehead. He chose Minehead because he liked it and didn't want to bury himself. He'd saved to buy the house. [Back to top]
 

2/7

MOVE TO MINEHEAD / WASHFORD RIDING STABLES / HAWKINS CHEMISTS / LEMONADE / WORKING FOR THE COUNCIL / SCYTHING / THEIR FIRST LORRY

They came to Minehead. He worked at riding stables in Washford for 2 or 3 years.

He went to work for Hawkins chemists at Porlock. They made soda water and lemonade in the back. He drove around the villages delivering the lemonade and would cycled around the town delivering medicine.

Went to work for the Council. Repeats story about using scythe while other men were using reap hooks [see CD1, track 5]. He drove the first lorry for the Council [Minehead] UDC]. Refused to take driving test for them. Stayed there 24 years. [Back to top]
 

2/8

WORKING FOR THE COUNCIL / SHIFTING SNOW / HELPING MAN FROM NUTSCALE

He did all sorts. They knocked down a brickyard at Alcombe, where fire station is now, because they were going to build houses. He hauled all that away. His first lorry was a Commer. Describes disaster on first day, when snow brought lead guttering down, crushing his cab, and checking on old man at Nutscale [?1947]. [Back to top]