101-0005-013

Interview with Ellen Greve

Ellen Greve and her daughter discuss the Norwegian community in Tiger Bay in the 1930s and 1940s.

Item

1 Compact Audio Tape

15 Mar 1995

BHAC

English

Copyright situation unknown/other, contact HCE

Contact HCE if you would like to use or reproduce this item

Ellen Greve

Alan Milne

No

Part 1 [Tape 1 Side 1] [00:45:10]: Ellen Greve [EG] was born in Cardiff and married her husband who was a Norwegian sailor in 1925, they settled in Cardiff and lived in both Grangetown and Whitchurch. [00:00:42] Shares the story of meeting her husband. [00:07:58] Explains how her husband began working for the Norwegian Seaman’s Union. [00:11:30] Discusses husband’s duties as a full time Union Organiser. [00:12:55] Recalls family holidays to Bergan in Norway before the war started. [00:14:35] Daughter Ellen Wayne [EW] describes the conditions on ships. [00:17:00] Discusses the Norwegian church and the congregation of both Cardiff residents and sailors. [00:18:55] Mentions the different functions the church was used for. [00:20:00] Recalls a large house in Hereford for the Norwegian community. [00:22:30] Remarks on the increase in church attendance during the war. [00:25:40] Discusses pastoral duties. [00:27:20] Comments on the high turnover of clergy after Pastor Rasmastan(?) left. [00:30:05] Describes the reading room in the church. [00:31:21] Recalls visiting the Prestergordon(?). [00:33:10] Remembers organising bazaars during the war. [00:40:53] Recalls visiting a ship before the war. [00:43:25] Describes the Norwegian restaurant and meeting Prince Olaf. [00:44:44] Mentions husband working as an interrupter in court for sailors.

Part 2 [Tape 1 Side 2] [00:27:27]: Ellen Greve [EG] different food served in the Norwegian restaurant. [00:02:43] Mentions the function room above the restaurant. [00:05:20] Recalls businesses near the restaurant along Bute Street. [00:07:40] Discusses the Norwegian community’s reaction to the German occupation of Norway. [00:11:43] Mentions socialising with the Norwegian community organising the bazaars. [00:12:34] Recalls an increase in church attendance during the war and Betty Wagner-Larsen playing the piano and singing. [00:14:05] Remembers a conversation with Prince Olaf. [00:16:40] Comments on the bombing on the Norwegian boarding house. [00:20:40] Recalls being informed of events in Norway during the war through Red Cross letters. [00:22:28] Describes 17th May celebrations during the war. [00:22:39] Discusses the decline of Norwegian ships and business in Cardiff after the war.

72 min 37 sec

Yes

Glamorgan Archives and National Library of Wales

Open

UNLW023/12