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I retired in 1996 and for the first time in my life I had time to pursue a hobby that required a commitment from me. We are fortunate that we live in an old house and when our newly formed History Society asked me for the history of our house, like a trout in May I took the fly.
I immediately became involved in gathering information about our house and the village in which we have lived for the last forty-six years. Facts are fairly easy to ascertain, you have the census, the Parish records, wills and local newspapers to name just a few sources but one found little about what life was really like in the last century.
I decided that to the best of my ability I would leave some sort of oral
record which would give researchers in fifty or a hundred years time a
little more information than was available to me on what life was like for my and earlier generations.I started, with the considerable help of one of our sons, to record
conversations with local personalities. My first choice was the son of our village blacksmith who was borne in the village in 1912. We explored what life was like at school, at work and at play. I suppose it took me about three months to put it on the computer, to edit out the ooms and ahhs and finally give a completed CD to the author for his approval. The recording is entitled "Tea with Mr Bridgeman" It then became available to members of the history society and to the public at our local Post Office.I have come to the conclusion that to obtain a good recording you need to establish a relationship with your subject so that when you record there is an understanding between you both. On every recording so far, there has been what I would describe as "a little gem". In the recording of "Tea with Mr Bridgeman" I was having problems identifying cottages which in his generation did not have names but were generally known by the landlord's name. To overcome this problem we drove around the village. When passing a cottage by the church, Reg. Bridgeman stated that during the war behind the cottage there were anti aircraft guns to which I replied "during the last war" "Oh no" he said "they were there to shoot down the Zeppelins"
My next venture was two CD's entitled Wrights Green Ramblings which were recorded with David Sylvester who was born and lived in the village all his life. He grew up during the war and has many a tale about the people who lived in the village.
Our village war memorial bears the names of three brothers by the name of Dorrington who were lost in the first world war. I contacted the only son of the surviving brother who had an interest in history and had already carried out a lot of research on his family. That was a real joy to make as we traced his family interest in the village, their baking business and their part in the abstinence movement. We ended up with two CD's each of seventy minutes or more duration. These two were the first recordings for which a photographic record was produced which hopefully add to the enjoyment.
For the first time in our village history we celebrated the 100th birthday of a man who has lived in the village for the last forty years. This had to be something of importance that had to be recorded. George Assinder was adjutant of the Yugoslav Air Force during the war, a member of the Allied Bank Commission and was knocked off his bicycle carrying the equivalent of forty thousand pounds. This recording is entitled "A Century of Memories"
On the recommendation of George Assinder I next approached Dave
Creevy. He agreed to be interviewed and turned out to be a natural with a pleasing voice and an incredible memory. I concentrated on his life in the Territorial Army and the regular army during the last world war. So far two CD's have been produced the first entitled "Shining Lights" dealing with life in Territorial Army where he commanded a searchlight unit. The second is entitled "An Imperfect Soldier" where he describes his part in Operation Market Garden There he was a glider pilot in the first landing in an attempt to take the bridge at Arnhem. This is a very moving account of the bravery of all involved and the futility of war.In view of the subject I offered copies to the Imperial War Museum that were promptly accepted. They then arranged to interview Dave Creevy themselves. It was interesting for both of us to learn that their technique was to record on the basis of questions and answers. No editing is carried out and this went one from 10.30 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon with a break for lunch. With Dave's agreement I approached the Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop. We had visited the museum so I learned what the various gliders looked like. On receipt they phoned to ask what they should do with them which we told them was up to them. I subsequently wrote to them asking that they return the CD's and photographs if they did not want them and since then I have heard nothing from them. I would expect a museum to be keen to have whatever information there was about a major battle of world war two. Perhaps they did not like the weakness of their training to be subject to examination.
Currently I have completed a recording with Betty Rogers of life in our village from the thirties onward. Editing has to be completed and a name chosen that may be "Life in our Village"
A copy of all the recordings are sent to the Essex Record Office where they are available to the public. They will all be found in the Audio section of the record office in Chelmsford where they may be listened to free of charge.
If anyone wants to purchase one and cannot get to the village please contactSue Meyer . Anvil Farm. Little Hallingbury. Essex. CM22 7RD.
Phone 01279 723814.
The cost of each is £10 plus postage and packing of £1.50.
Currently available recordings: -
Reg. Bridgeman Tea with Mr Bridgeman
David Sylvester Wrights Green Ramblings No 1
David Sylvester Wrights Green Ramblings No 2
George Dorrington A Bakers Dozen
George Dorrington Another Round
George Assinder A Century of Memories
Photographic record of 12 or more photographs available at £5
Dave Creevy An Imperfect Soldier No1
Dave Creevy An Imperfect Soldier No 2