| Description | Side A
JOAN MARY REID nee ORAM born 18 October 1932 Calcutta, India. Eldest of 4 children. Siblings', parents' names. Mother born in Dumbarton, father born in Dundee. Paternal family: origins were Scandinavian. Describes their physical Scandinavian looks. Paternal grandfather, William Oram, engineer, apprentice in Newcastle, later ran possibly one of first wine-bars in Dundee, married Ellen Bomaker. Details re his children, one lost in First World War, their work. Father did chemistry at St Andrews University, became chartered accountant, went to Calcutta. Parents met at university. Maternal family: grandfather, George Blackstock born 1837, worked in Dennis Shipyards as master-carpenter. Details re routines there. Details re his two families. Mother born to second wife - reaction of puritanical family. Describes grandparents. Grandmother washed coal to collect dross. Details re their home. Mother's half-brothers, engineers in Burma with Irawaddy Flotilla Company, paid for her private education, enabled her to go to medical school. She was a pianist. Effect of her difference on others in her childhood neighbourhood. Own recollections of grandmother, her home, routines - terribly Scottish. Recalls holidays there, cousins. Routines in that neighbourhood, eg shops coming to home, conversations on doorstep, bandstand, church, school. Mother recalled women weeping during war. Mother's memories of grandmother's dress. Scottish approach to women's education. Parents met when both members of university orchestra. They married 10 years later. Explains. Describes mother. Her family came from Skye Clearances. Details re her work as doctor, schooling. Details re her half-brother George's involvement with JP Rowe & Co, Rangoon. Mentions relatives prisoners of Japanese during war, subsequent business in Japan. Many Scots went to Far East.
Side B
Mother (cont'd): Possible inspiration in extended family for her to become a doctor. She loved her training, music. Details. Recalls being brought up with classical music. Further details re mother's student life. Describes her character, her attitude to the work ethic. She was Medical Officer during war. Sister had tuberculosis. Recalls mother's first meeting with husband Bob. Mentions parents smoking. Went to boarding school early. Explains. Details re sister's illness, abdominal tb from unpasteurised milk, mother's treatment. Father joined Williamsons linoleum company. Lived in Carnforth. Reference to Dr Lepage, tb specialist in Manchester. Recalls wartime bombers. Sister still alive and well. Details re her situation. Recalls family nanny, her long association with the family. Describes father. He became a chartered accountant, then a businessman. He experienced stress, had health consequences. Details. Parents both died at 60. Compares father's personality, approach to problems, with husband Bob's. Impact of war on family. Recalls skills learnt in childhood. Parents played music together. Family situation in Calcutta at time of own birth, return to Lancaster, England. Mentions parents' social position in Calcutta, their staff, their attitudes to people of other races etc. They were not cliquish. Explains. Recalls live-in maids in Lancaster, life with them. Had evacuees in house. Describes home, garden, surroundings. Mother always had daily help. Recalls formality of home life, meals. Was in charge of ration books, points. As eldest child given responsibilities. Describes own character and appearance as child. Mother's feelings about having staff in home. Father involved with ARP during war. Explains. Recalls aircraft recognition tests. Mother, nanny, busy with volunteers etc.
Side A
Recalls going to school alone in bus when 4-5. Always a reader. Recalls old songs, gives examples. Recalls excitement of wireless programmes, eg Children's Hour. Missed Beatles etc later when in oil camps. Mentions Bob's forthcoming work as Bafta Awards judge. Feelings about current music, old drawing room songs. Mother anti-Presbyterian Church. Explains. Religion left to children to decide. Explains mother's standards, attitude to hypocrisy. Father had similar attitude. Own feelings. Went to Casterton School for Clergy Daughters in Kirby Lonsdale aged 8. Reference to Bronte sisters who went there. Explains why sent to boarding school. Recalls knitting balaclava helmets for war effort when in Brownies. Still knits while doing other things. Details. Recalls mother's attitude that it's better to be doing two things than one. Describes regime at school. Enjoyed anticipation of lessons. Explains. Played piano, sang, enjoyed games. Feelings about school. Recalls everything being for the war effort, own enthusiasm for sharing. War imposed discipline, purpose. Uncertain about what life would be like in peacetime. Explains. Comments on women-driven busy role of women in war, own experience. Influence of evacuees in home. Own attitude to waste. Impact on family of evacuees. Mother a snob but socialist underneath. Explains disadvantage of evacuee children, their manners. Recalls punishment in home. Mother signed up to National Health Service at beginning. Explains her attitude. She broke the General Strike, drove an ambulance, would have voted to the right. She liked order. Compares parents' attitudes with Bob's family. Mother was high class coming out of working class Scottish background.
Interview not completed.
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