Alfred Ronald Thompson, born 1 July 1917, lived in Cartmel 1919 to 1924, then returned in 1948 as a local bank manager.  Ron was interviewed on 10 June 2014 by Irini Tzortzoglou and John Batty for 36 minutes.  The interview includes memories of attending Cartmel Primary School, former shops in Cartmel, father’s work with local Choral Societies, reminiscences of banking career, formation of Cartmel Priory Secondary School of which he was a governor and its opening by Princess Margaret.

In this 51 minute interview, Harry Tyson born in 1922,  talks about the changes in farming recalling the long hours and general hardship from the 30s to the time of the interview in 1992.  Started at 7 years of age with butter round in Cartmel.  He mentions the cost of things and earnings.  He also talks of the impact on local farming of the European Common Market quota system and hygiene standards.

Percy was born in Cartmel in 1938. In his 75 minute interview, he talks about early family life, his father and his father’s siblings, their business of garage, taxi service and petrol pump in Cartmel and the houses that the family lived in. Percy also spoke of his school years, the games they played, Cartmel Race  and various residents of Cartmel.

 

A 57 minute interview given by Maurice (DOB 1918) in 1999 prompted occasionally by his wife Edith.  Maurice talks about the garage in Cartmel where he worked most of his life keeping the books and running the taxi service.  He mentions the various other businesses, tradespeople and residents of Cartmel in the pre war years.  His first trip abroad (7 weeks in Minorca) was when he retired.

This interview (thirty minutes long) was recorded in November 1992.  Gerald was born in January 1910.  Lost a brother in WW1, went to school at Lindale and attended “Cartmel Centre”, in former Grammar School building, probably one day a week. Left school at 14 and worked for his brother at Lindale Post Office as delivery boy. Joined a church choir at 17. Worked at Blakemores for 7 years. He also worked as a joiner. Cycled to Witherslack or Newby Bridge to church.  Discussed the 1891 Lindale census and a 1913 map.  Various blacksmiths of the area are also mentioned.