101-0005-004

Interview with Cardiff Butetown (Vera Johnson / Olwen Watkins/Noris Joseph / Margaret Cox)

Group interview discussing experiences growing up in Tiger Bay.

Item

1 Compact Audio Tape

28 Nov 1990

BHAC

English

Copyright situation unknown/other, contact HCE

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Cardiff Butetown (Vera Johnson / Olwen Watkins/Noris Joseph / Margaret Cox)

Three interviewers (two female and one male)

No

Part 1 [Tape 1 Side A] [00:27:25]: Describes community care by family and neighbours, people rarely went to hospital, and there was always someone at hand to help with illnesses, births and deaths. [00:03:14] Mentions an auntie who was active in the community. [00:04:03] Explains a doctor cost two shillings and people had to travel to Adamstown to call him. Prescriptions were taken to Charles Street Old Registry Office. [00:05.33] Comments on family life; most people stayed in the area, even if they got married, their parents would then look after their children when they worked. [00:07:27] Discusses redevelopment of the area and how this has impacted the community. [00:11:56] Describes common illnesses; there was a lot of people who suffered from Tuberculosis, and many people died from it. [00:18:35] Discusses community response to those with disabilities – mainly positive, recalling children wearing calipers on their legs usually caused by rickets and T.B. [00:21:08] Shares an anecdote of Jimmy Boston - Billy Boston’s brother - playing rugby in calipers. [00:24:42] Describes racism and names they were called outside of the Bay area in Grangetown, Newtown and Splott.

Part 2 [Tape 1 Side B] [00:30:03]: Describes when sister was ill with cancer, she was cared for at home by family members. [00:05:27] Mentions a doctor who used to visit her sister in the evenings who was from Custom House Street. [00:07:30] Discusses un-employment, striking in the 1920s, men working away from home and women’s role in the community. [00:12:33] Discusses pregnancies out of wedlock, how the community responded, and Mother-baby homes. [00:19:24] Describes how the older generation did not like accepting financial aid and charity because of pride, recalling an anecdote of not using a meal ticket. [00:21:31] Group discusses medicines that were made at home. [00:25:50] Describes different means of financial aid and the amount of dole money their family received.

57 min. 28 sec

Yes

Glamorgan Archives and National Library of Wales

Open

UNLW023/4