Videos tagged with 1940s

MyStory - Childhood games and homemade entertainments in 1940's Burnley

MyStory - Childhood games and homemade entertainments in 1940's Burnley

A MyStory film uploaded by DHE Solutions. Doreen Riley describes the outdoor games and homemade entertainments she experienced in Burnley as a child during and following the Second World War. She describes the imaginative ways that children created their own entertainments including making lamp post swings and racing rats across a Lodge (A pond). There was clear excitement when Ealing Film studios filmed 'The man in the white suit' at the top of her road, and Doreen and friends were invited in as extras, playing marbles. www.mystories.eu www.dhesolutions.co.uk

MyStory - Amateur dramatics and a film extra in Hobson's Choice

MyStory - Amateur dramatics and a film extra in Hobson's Choice

A MyStory film uploaded by DHE Solutions. Born in Fallowfield, Manchester in 1920, Ronnie Carroll, now of Warton Lancashire, had an abundance of fascinating stories to tell covering some thirty years when interviewed in December 2012. Now at the spritely age of 93, Ronnie still acquaints his life stories with the same vivacity as the day they happened. In this story, Ronnie begins by informing us on his involvement within amateur dramatics throughout the 1950s. As a leading member of The Withington Players, a Manchester based amateur dramatic group, Ronnie travelled throughout the UK, starring in many stage productions and competitions for which the group often came out triumphant. Ronnie then goes on to share the highlight of his time in amateur dramatics, starring as an extra in the 1953 film Hobson's Choice alongside big name actors of the time John Mills, Charles Laughton and Brenda de Banzie. Ronnie provides an insight into the nature of Charles Laughton, recalling how he was enthralled within his work and in his role as Victorian bootmaker, Henry Hobson. Further recollections include working directly alongside John Mills in one scene, and even buying the late film star a beer after filming as he had no money with him! It is evident that Ronnie thoroughly enjoyed his time in amateur dramatics and in particular his work on the set of Hobson's Choice, an opportunity that many aspiring actors would be grateful of today. www.mystories.eu www.dhesolutions.co.uk

MyStory - A 'proper' Skertonian - Hard Work and Strong Values

MyStory - A 'proper' Skertonian - Hard Work and Strong Values

A MyStory film uploaded by DHE Solutions. Pat is a post-war baby who was brought up in a family with very little money, but with strong values. She later married the boy she met at 13, and raised six children. She and her husband would each work over 70 hours per week to ensure her family did not go without and yet occasionally a choice had to be made over whether to buy food or much-needed warm clothing. Pat's attitude to hard work and the commitment to her family is an inspiration. Pat is 63 and has no plans to retire. Skerton is one of the oldest districts of Lancaster dating back to Saxon times. People born in Skerton proudly refer to themselves as 'Skertonians', rather than 'Lancastrians'.

Stan Hope - RAF evader (part 1)

Stan Hope - RAF evader (part 1)

On 8th December 1942 Stan Hope was the navigator/camera operator in an RAF Mosquito on a photo reconnaissance mission to Austria. When the aircraft developed a fault the pilot decided they could not reach Britain and so he and Stan would both have to bail out and the plane would be set to crash. They were over German occupied Belgium, and Stan landed by parachute in the countryside. He had visited its capital Brussels before the war, and even spoke a little French, and so he headed for this city in the hope that he'd find safe refuge there from the occupying German troops. He would then try to reach 'neutral' Spain via occupied France. While in Brussels he enjoyed a surprisingly sociable time over Xmas, thanks to the kindness, hospitality and courage of the Belgian family which hid him. But, as we'll hear in Part 2, the New Year would bring tragic consequences for them and also Stan. For more information on the WW2 escape lines: www.ww2escapelines.co.uk

Growing up in the Seychelles during the 1940s and 50s

Growing up in the Seychelles during the 1940s and 50s

Elise was born and raised in the Seychelles until she left to come to England when she was 21 in the 1960s. In this interview she describes the beautiful environment she grew up in and her happy childhood. She speaks of what it was like growing up on the island. In that time the population was extremely self sufficient; they grew all their own food. She also recalls some of the traditions, what an average week would consist of, the cuisine and dating.