Surname
|
Lovett
|
Forename
|
John
|
Date of recording
|
Jan 2010
|
Year of birth
|
1927
|
Place of Birth
|
Aldeburgh
|
Occupation
|
Retired
|
Fathers occupation
|
Shop owner
|
Present Address
|
Aldeburgh
|
Location Interview
|
Aldeburgh
|
Interviewer
Summary |
Richard Marson
|
Duration
|
22 Mins
|
No of tracks: 3
|
This recording consists of 3 tracks.
Track 1 [10 minutes] Interview by Richard Marson with John Lovett at his home 23 Linden Road, Aldeburgh. Mr. Lovett was born in Aldeburgh Hospital on July 10th 1937 and was delivered by Dr. Lloyd, whose son David ran the bar, Dave's Place and whose daughter Sue Lloyd became an actress. Mentions that his grandfather ran a tobacconist shop in Aldeburgh from 1890 and his father took it over in 1918. Describes how he went to Aldeburgh Primary School between the ages of 6 and 10 and then, due to the fact that his father played cricket with Mr. Spurgeon, he then went to Orwell Park School in Ipswich and then on to Belstead School and 13 years old. Remembers walking to school in Aldeburgh with his friends and mentions, Strowgers, Smith and Pillbutton (not sure of the spelling). Remembers there were not many strangers in Aldeburgh then and it was a very close knit community. Mentions that he left Aldeburgh School in 1945 to go on to Orwell Park. Mentions he was a border at this school and his parents would come down and take him out to Felixstowe, Millers Cafe, for a cup of tea and then he would go back to school. Remembers the school fees being £140 per term. Describes a 9 hole golf course that the school built and mentions Reg Knight, who later became the professional golfer at Aldeburgh. Mentions a special friend at school, Blare Hesketh who lived in Scotland, and used to stay with him occasionally. Mentions that he still attends an annual school reunion dinner, but does not know many people now. Describes the beach during the war and mentions that the beach was mined and full of metal pipes sticking out of the shingle between the Wentworth Hotel and Thorpeness. Describes an instance where a local lady, Mrs. Hepburn from the chemists, went across the minefield to rescue an airman who had parachuted down. Mentions that she was given a medal for her bravery. Remembers that there were a few fishing boats on the beach but a lot of the fisherman had joined the merchant navy and had done away. Describes the beach from the Wentworth to the Martello Tower and describes large concrete blocks all along the beach, these were to stop tanks. Remembers ration books and briefly describes his mother going to Salter's the butchers for perhaps half a rabbit or a small piece of lamb. Mentions there was also fish off the beach. Track 2 [10 mins] Continues to talk about rationing and mentions that there were no bananas or oranges around. Remembers there were not many sweets. Mentions Jeffreys the green grocer who had an allotment at Leiston, and managed to keep his shop going by selling home grown produce. Mentions that the greengrocer lived with an Austrian woman. Describes how his mother used to work in the shop weighing out produce into bags. Also mentions that his father used to take bets and was a sort of bookmaker. Describes how his mother was mainly a housekeeper and cook. Mentions that his mother joined a badminton club at the Jubilee Hall. Mentions that his father became ill with cancer and went into a nursing home. Describes the celebrations marking the end of the war in 1945 and describes a big party in the Jubilee Hall, "a bit of a do", with lots of tables full of food and drink. Remembers there was a magician and a band playing. Describes how everyone had a good sing-a-long and left to go home about 8.30 or 9.00 in the evening. Describes how the army Army had requisitioned the larger houses and the hotels to billet the soldiers and that after the war the people began to return to Aldeburgh and open up their houses and try and get life back to normal. Describes how the local council built a sea wall and built council homes for the expanding population. Briefly mentions the bathing huts and a raft about 60 - 70 yards out to sea where you could swim to and dive off. Remembers Mr. Collis' terrier dog. Describes how Dr. Nora and Robin used to go out with the lifeboat if there were casualties to see to. Mentions the anti-aircraft gun by the Brudenell hotel. Describes how sometimes rabbits would set off the mines on the beach. Also remembers the guns firing at planes or doodlebugs (V 1's). Track 3 [2 mins] Briefly talks about the Mayors in Aldeburgh. Mentions the price of property and tells a story about Charlie Ward who would run up a large drinks bill in the Cross Keys and then go to the bank and sell a hour for £150 to pay his drinks bill. |