Videos tagged with london

Total: 52

Moving from the Seychelles to London in the 1960s and how the Seychelles has changed in the past 50 years

In the second part of her interview, Elise Johnson tells us the story of why she moved from The Seychelles in the early 1960s to come to London. She recalls what it was like moving from one culture to another so dramatically different, and what circumstances she was faced with when she arrived. Elise also talks about what it is like for her now going back to The Seychelles after having adapted to London life, and how the environment and its people have changed so dramatically in the past 50 years.

Muriel Webb. Life as a disabled child in the 1940s and 50s

This is the extraordinary story of Muriel Webb's childhood. Born in 1942, daughter of an unmarried woman and a German soldier, Muriel was given up for adoption. She was born with a brain tumor that left the left side of her body disabled and with countless medical problems. Her adoptive mother could not cope with her disabilty and abandoned her at county hall in London. In Part 1 of her interview, Muriel recounts her childhood memories of living in and out of children's homes. She explains what it felt like to be a child with a severe disability in those times and how she never really felt part of a family. She lived in these homes until she was 17 and then went back to live with her adoptive mother, a time which did not leave her with fond memories...

Getting Caught by a mine during the London Blitz

Sunny Talks about the time when he was blown into an Anderson Shelter occupied by his wife and daughter and a voluntary worker by a German mine during the London Blitz

Working in London's docks in the 1960s

Les Dawson worked in London's docks from the beginning of the 1960s until the demise of the riverside industry in the early 1970s. It was very difficult to actually get into the industry and it was never a permanent job. Men worked from wharf to wharf depending on how many men were needed for a shipment. The Dockmaster would choose workers from a line-up depending on whether they were liked and in good shape, causing a lot of competitiveness between workers. It was very hard work and workers were paid by what tonnage they moved. but there was always a strong sense of camaraderie. Les recounts his personal experiences working the docks in a very positive light until the demise of the industry in the early 1970s after workers were moved into enclosed docks and the riverside began to be transformed into modern appartment buildings.

Working in the RAF in the 1940s (Part 2) - Coming Home

In the concluding part of his interview Fred Folkard speaks of the last days of the World War 2 whilst he was working in the Far East in the RAF. He recalls what it was like coming back to London after so many years and being reunited with his family and girlfriend.