Title:
Interview with Hazel Minchin
Level: Category
Sound Archive
Level: Fonds
ESSEX RECORD OFFICE
Level: Series
Fryerns Library Fiftieth Anniversary
Scope and Content:
Interview with Hazel Minchin about growing up in Basildon.

[Track 1:] Moving to Basildon when her mother's employer, Ben Williams' Tailory, moved to the town from Bow [London]; development of town including 'new shops' at Stacey's Corner in 1955; went to Pitsea School; passed eleven-plus exam, spent one year at Shipwright's School in Thundersley (now King John), while waiting for Fryerns Grammar and Technical School to open; started at new school in 1956 (2 minutes 22 seconds).
[Track 2:] Local shops, including butcher's, greengrocer's; Eastern National and Campbell's buses; gradual development of New Town; youth centre in [Luncies?] Road, then moved up to behind Fryerns Library, also attended youth centre in Craylands School (2 minutes 1 second).
[Track 3:] No fire service in town: retained firemen, station at Vange; visits from shopkeepers with horse and cart; gypsy family living at top of [Luncies?] Road (2 minutes 41 seconds).
[Track 4:] Moved from Walthamstow to Basildon; used Pickfords Removal Services; aunt hired car to travel from Walthamstow to Basildon; story of uncle going to wrong train station when he came to visit; negative first impressions but quickly adapted, Basildon became home (2 minutes 22 seconds).
[Track 5:] Moved into a new house; layout of house; small garden; allowed to have cat and dog; furnishings, tiled floor with carpet squares; no washing machine, refrigerator, immersion heater, or electric kettle (5 minutes 21 seconds).
[Track 6:] Mother continued to travel to Bow to work for about eight months before company moved to Basildon; long hours with journey by train; then had to walk to company's new site on Cranes Farm Road; aunt looked after Hazel; mother worked as a passer to check the garments after they had been manufactured (2 minutes 31 seconds).
[Track 7:] Changes in Basildon; development of town centre, leisure facilities and parks; existing library at Vange, Fryerns Library opened in 1958; new hospital opened in 1973, Basildon railway station in 1974, new police station opened (3 minutes 53 seconds).
[Track 8:] Worked for Bankers' Trust Company in London, then moved to solicitor's in Canning Street; worked in Craylands Youth Centre and some local shops; returned to solicitor's in London, then finally worked at solicitor's in Basildon; enjoyed work and travelling even though it was hard; frequent train mishaps; got to know other commuters; details about the train carriages including ladies-only carriages (5 minutes 22 seconds).
[Track 9:] Fair at the bottom of Long Riding when the New Town opened; storm and flooding on the night of the fair (2 minutes 38 seconds).
[Track 10:] Basildon now; has changed over the years, not the same. Moved to Canvey Island to be in bungalow with a better garden; but Basildon is still home (2 minutes 32 seconds).
[Track 11:] Leisure time growing up: youth centre; Mecca Locarno dance hall; cinema in Pitsea or Southend; outings organised through the youth centre to Margate, Clacton-on-Sea; resident group Dave Clark Five at the Locarno, got to see them playing on Thank Your Lucky Stars in Birmingham; later went to Ilford Palais, met husband there, other dance halls (5 minutes 59 seconds).
Dates of Creation:
7 September 2010
Extent:
37 minutes 46 seconds
Admin History:
Hazel Minchin moved to Basildon in 1954. She was born c. 1943-1944 and lived in Basildon until she moved to Canvey Island with her husband in c. 2000.
Copyright:
Copyright Essex Sound and Video Archive. View our Takedown Policy here:
http://www.essexrecordofficeblog.co.uk/you-are-hear/takedown-policy/

Key terms

TypeKey termsDescription
Subjects Commuting Interview with Hazel Minchin
Subjects Dancing Interview with Hazel Minchin
Subjects Housing Interview with Hazel Minchin
Subjects Housing Interview with Hazel Minchin
Personal Names Hazel
Minchin 		Interview with Hazel Minchin
Document Types Sound recording Interview with Hazel Minchin