| Description | Tape 1 Side A: RITA JOHANNE GREHAN nee MOGENSEN born 29 March 1939 Copenhagen, Denmark. Eldest of 3 children. Details re siblings, mother 93, father. Parents not well-to-do. Father of Icelandic extraction. Mother worked as cleaner. Brought up by paternal grandparents. Father an orphan, his adoption papers signed by the king. Brought up in Copenhagen. Some memories of war, e.g. British bombing, liberation, lighting up of city with candles, flags, collaborators. Father with shipbuilding company, did odd delivery-type jobs. Details re him, story of his risking snipers when swimming in canal. Recalls arrival of first banana boat, banana rations being handed out. Other war memories. Mentions grandfather's earlier work on trams, use of old tram tickets. Describes childhood neighbourhood, home. Recalls sound of marching troops in street. Describes parents. Is more like mother. Explains. Father a good dancer, worked in accounts. Describes mother's standards. Recalls childhood home-made clothing. Further details re father; parents' relationship. Describes own personality. Always wanted to travel. Went to Glasgow at 18. Not academically inclined. Wanted to be an air hostess - not possible. Explains. Details re work permit regulations, thwarted trip to US. Went to Iran, to look after young girl. Details. Interested in crafts, reading. Details re own family relationships, social times at home. Recalls nanny work in Iran, employers, standards of dress there. No protection necessary there when out. Recalls meeting with husband, Daniel Patrick Fitzgerald Grehan, through expatriate club. Did not like him at first. Explains own situation at time, first outing together.
Tape 1 Side B: Husband, Pat, had been in Army, went to work on Kharg Island in Persian Gulf on harbour project as Materials Manager 1958. Details. He did contract work. He joined Khuzestan Development Corporation, Iran 1959. He was born 1921, became boy apprentice, map maker, in Army. Details re his interests in diving, stamps, geography. Describes his methodical ways, organisation, home preparations for nuclear war. Impact of Cold War on his thinking. Mentions his miniphon for intelligence gathering. Married 1962. Details re own job situation, development of relationship with Pat. Explains culture then in Iran, power of money. Mentions own and husband's religions. Returned to Denmark, worked on a production line for 6 months until return to Iran for marriage. Studied English shorthand, typing. Details re wedding dress damage, problems with luggage, arrangements, wedding cake, clothing, Pat's resourcefulness. Own family's feelings about the marriage. Happy being housewife. Birth of first child. Details re Pat's position as Logistics Controller, RCA of America Microwave Programme 1963. Left Iran 1964. Mentions Pat's interest in survival, desire to establish a campsite - not possible. Explains. He came to England, appointed Store Manager, US Steel (Oilwell Division), Great Yarmouth 1965. Background to appointment. Beginnings of UK gas industry. Mentions precariousness of Pat's jobs. Slow reaction of local people to supplying gas industry. Recalls Norman Chalk, butcher, his initial conception, later success. Stayed at home, looked after child. Pat's work difficult, eg keeping goodwill while making demands local people were not used to. Early impressions of Great Yarmouth people, their reaction to arrival of industry and Americans - who formed ghettos. Impression of price hikes.
Tape 2 Side A: Recalls meeting Americans, making connections, going to barbecues. Details re accommodation in Great Yarmouth. Recalls accident involving Canadian named Running Bear. Lack of regulations, no safety training for new personnel in the industry which couldn't get enough people. Details re Pat's work. Reference drilling rig Gulftide rig, ship QE2. Mentions Pat's conservative politics. Difficulties with release of materials from US for import to UK. Pat appointed Base Superintendent for KCA Drilling, Great Yarmouth 1967. Details re position, base. US Steel base was first oil industry supply store in UK. Recalls belief that gas industry would last forever, Pat's expectations. Own situation living in house on campsite. Details re second son. Didn't know many people. Pat brought colleagues home for lunch. Describes own home life, loneliness. No social involvement with company. Details re Pat's job. Had little involvement with his work. He had little time for home life. Recalls demanding nature of Americans, Pat's organised methods. He got job in Shetland with Ocean Inchcape 1972 as Manager, construction and operation, of first base in Lerwick. Details. Loved Shetland. Explains. Recalls Shetlanders' anxiety about oil industry. Returned to Great Yarmouth, Pat got job in Aberdeen 1974. Details re domestic arrangements. Family joined Pat in Aberdeen 1976-86. Attitude in Aberdeen to oil. Mentions Ian Clark, situation in Shetland. Impression of Clark. Impression of Aberdeen. Went to work as picture framer, met people. Best period of life. Pat had periods out of work. He worked for PSF Offshore, food supplies - fraught job. Explains his difficulties, background to his leaving. Details re getting own job with William Young Antiques.
Tape 2 Side B: Unhappy time for Pat in Aberdeen when without work. Recalls shared interest with him in building plastic models, his interest in model trains. He applied unsuccessfully for many jobs, got one with Grootcon UK 1979 as Logistics Co-ordinator for Amoco's NW Hutton etc. Details. Job was soul-destroying, based in warehouse. Explains. Effect of his military background on his approach to work. Explains own position, powerlessness to help. Background to Pat's leaving job, Aberdeen. He was a gatherer, helped set up first Die Cast Collectors' Club in Aberdeen. Details re his other interests. He did not enjoy his retirement. Explains. Mentions sons' situations. Own feelings about one son joining Army. Explains Danish attitude to war. Returned south to England 1986. Details re accommodation, alterations. Mentions own illness, son's illness and death. Pat's health suffered. Comments on family life, marriage in retrospect. Pat's reaction to not being well. Details re son's situation in Army, personal life, current job involving fibre-optic telecommunication. Mentions work done by Pat for MI5 early on. Comments on brutal nature of oil/gas industry as employer. Recalls Pat's attitude to work, earnings, effect of his work on personal relationships. Attitude of drilling companies to people in Pat's situation. Describes his analytical approach to work, problems, own DIY (do it yourself) abilities, e.g. laying mahogany parquet floor. Current life. Mentions visits to Denmark to see mother. Only spoke Danish to sons. Explains Pat's attitude to this. Recent years in retrospect. Pat was the best man for the start-up in Yarmouth. He knew it all. |