Title:
Interview with Diane Butler, February 2009
Level: Category
Sound Archive
Level: Fonds
HARWICH SOCIETY
Level: Sub-Fonds
Oral History Recordings
Level: Sub-Series
Memories Exchange interviews
Scope and Content:
Interview with Diane Butler about the 1953 flood.

[Track 1:] Aged about seven at the time, living at sea end of Mayflower Avenue; walked to the sea front and looked towards grandparents’ house on Station Road; grandparents had been rescued from their bedrooms and taken to the drill hall; they moved in with the family at Mayflower Avenue; also had relations living on Grafton Road who moved in with her next-door neighbours (2 minutes 48 seconds).
[Track 2:] Then attending Bathside School; after flood held school in brick huts on barrack field, children sometimes given parcels from America (49 seconds).
[Track 3:] Family worked on salvaging things from grandparents’ house; restoring house; received donated furniture and household goods (3 minutes 24 seconds).
[Track 4:] No electricity across town after the flood; mother cooked on open fire; moved up to Esplanade School in September (1 minute 42 seconds).
[Track 5:] Started work on grandparents’ house after one week; worked to get house ready for Christmas; aunt in Grafton Road saved canaries from the house when she was being rescued (2 minutes 45 seconds).
Dates of Creation:
February 2009
Extent:
11 minutes 28 seconds
Creator Name:
David Whittle
Admin History:
Diane Butler was born circa 1946.
Custodial History:
There were originally two copies of this interview received. Each had different file names, but the content was the same.
Copyright:
Copyright of recording transferred to ESVA but contact Harwich Society prior to use for broadcasting on radio, television, or non-ERO website.
Originals Location:
Harwich Society
Related Unit of Description:
A recording of the interview with Diane's brother, Malcolm Carter, is catalogued as SA 49/1/2/16/1.
Not Available:
Essex Sound and Video Archive: use digital copy available on Soundcloud

Key terms

TypeKey termsDescription
Subjects Floods Interview with Diane Butler
Personal Names Diane
Butler 		Interview with Diane Butler
Document Types Sound recording Interview with Diane Butler