Level: Category
Sound Archive
Level: Fonds
BBC ESSEX
Scope and Content:
Title: Harlow Project, A Dentist's Reminiscences
Speaker(s): Bracewell, Ronald; Bracewell, Yvonne; Ward, Martin
Date of recording: 15/2/87
Date of broadcast: Not Broadcast
Length of tape: 30 minutes
Depositor: BBC Essex
Restrictions: BBC
Synopsis of tape: Interview with Ronald Bracewell [RB] and Yvonne Bracewell [YB] about living in Harlow from 1953 and RB's work as a dentist.

Tape 1: RB talks about coming to work Harlow after seeing an advert for the post and article about Haygarth House health centre in the British Dental Journal; Harlow's reputation as a 'pram town'; the pioneer spirit of early residents; little public transport; previous homes of new inhabitants; size of dental practice and equipment; improvement on early poor accommodation with move to the purpose-built Nuffield House, the first of its kind; VIP visits; early excitement and enthusiasm amongst practitioners, all of whom were young. RB and YB recall subsequent changes in Harlow; more cars, dirtier environment, but improvement in living standards. Discuss life in London before moving to Harlow; post-war housing shortage; and going to lectures run by the Workers' Educational Association (WEA).

Tape 2: RB and YB continue talking about how they got to know people in Harlow: WEA lectures; Caledonian Society; St Mary-at-Latton church hall; community associations. RB describes setting up Harlow Rugby Club. YB talks about the education of their children. RB and YB discuss their hopes for the future of the town; the density of building schemes since first development; anti-New Town sentiment; existing medical and dental practices; and the establishment of Haygarth House through the provincial hospital trust.
Dates of Creation:
1987

Key terms

TypeKey termsDescription
Subjects New Towns Harlow Project, A Dentist's Reminiscences 1987
Document Types Sound recording Harlow Project, A Dentist's Reminiscences 1987