ORAL HISTORY
Recordings have been made of conversations from a number of our well known history group members:
Ange and Jenny
Ange and Jenny were delivered at their home in Kingswood in 1967 and 1965. Apart from a short time in Devon, they have lived in this area all their lives, and spent much of that time with their parents, Alan and Carole Davies, in Willsbridge in a cottage in the rank by the Queen’s Head pub. Although a small family, they are very close, and enjoy the countryside, their horses and animals, a love passed on to the sisters by their mother Carole. Both Ange’s and Jenny’s daughters have careers with animals: one is a vet nurse and the other manages an equine vet practice. Ange regularly contributes to the Hanham, Longwell Green, Oldland and Bitton Memories Facebook page.
Bob Willis
Bob Willis was born on May 20th 1934 in Hanham where his parents ran a newsagents and stationers. When he left Colston School, Bob quickly decided against office work, and joined the RAF. He later joined the family business, but moved to Somerset to advise farmers on animal husbandry. By this time he and Ann were married, and had two children, David and Jane.
In 1972, the family moved back to Hanham and Bob spent the rest of his career at BAE Filton. In retirement he was verger at St Mary’s church, Bitton, and a volunteer at Bath Abbey.
Eddie Hawking
Eddie was born in Bitton in 1926. He started school at Upton Cheyney due to his mothers illness but his schooling started properly in 1931 with Miss Sparks at Bitton Council School. He lived in what is now Court Farm Road until the start of World War II and then in Willsbridge Hill and later in North Street, Oldland Common, where he lives now. He gained a scholarship to Kingswood Grammar. At 17 he joined the RAF. He married Audrey and in 1952 they moved to Middlesborough and he became a lecturer at Middlesborough College of Art, where they brought up their family before returning many years later to North Street.
Janet Ivens
Janet Ivens was born on the 10th of March 1933 in Mariposa, the bungalow in Longwell Green that she shared with her parents and 3 siblings. She had a long and successful career as a nursery nurse following a training period and 5 years at Redland High School. When her parents died she moved to Bitton, where she has taken an active part in the local church and community, especially in catering. A highlight was an invitation to tea at Buckingham Palace.
John Rivers
John Rivers has lived in Upton Cheyney all his life. He was born in Springfield Villa on the 10th February 1929, and lived there until his family moved to Clearview, the bungalow they had built. A lifelong fascination with tractors led to work during the war at Hollisters Farm and then as a motor mechanic. John and Mary married in 1957 and brought up their 2 children in Clearview.
Arthur Hawking and Spencer Williams
Arthur Hawking and Spencer Willliams were interviewed about school life in the 1920s. The interview was made by the pupils of Upton Cheyney School.
Spencer and his wife Flora (née Watts) were the caretakers at Upton Cheyney URC chapel, spending many hours ensuring the premises were kept clean and warm. Murial Willams recalled how every springtime, heedless of health and safety, wooden planks were placed across the top of the pews and a ladder was put up to enable Spencer to reach the ceiling and brush the walls from top to bottom. Meanwhile, Flora with help from Mrs. Gladys Sawyers scrubbed the floors throughout the premises. She also relates:
“For several years around 1950 the choir were invited into large houses to Christmas to sing carols. Spencer Williams took them all round in his Ford van (no seats or seat belts required in those days) from Upton House to Beach House to Bitton Hill, etc. Singing was unaccompanied the note being given by Sybil Watts using a tuning fork.”
Arthur Hawking and Spencer Willams. 16:11