101-0005-014

Interview with Valentine Coode

Interview describing Norwegian maritime business in South Wales.

Item

1 Compact Audio Tape

19 Sept 1995

BHAC

English

Copyright situation unknown/other, contact HCE

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Valentine Coode and his wife

No

Part 1 [Tape 1 Side A] [00:47:16]: Valentine Coode [VC] was born in Cardiff and grew up in Cathays. VC began working for a Norwegian company in the docks in 1927. During the Second World War he served in the RAF, he later moved to Newport and served as a Norwegian Vice Counsel. [00:01:08] Discusses Mr Strangar(?), his early employment, and how he became a vice counsel. [00:04:30] Describes his main duties as a Norwegian counsel. [00:05:37] Recalls receiving telephone calls to deal with sailors, not uncommon for drunken sailors to miss their ships. [00:08:48] Discusses the shift pattern of ships. [00:09:52] Recalls an anecdote of a seaman involved with a woman in Tiger Bay. [00:16:45] Recalls his first wages in 1927 of 7 shillings 6 pence a week. [00:19:40] Recalls Mr Dahl who was one of the three directors of the Norwegian company. [00:25:26] Describes what was done when a Sailor died. [00:31:00] Mentions different Norwegian companies in the South Wales area. [00:32:59] Describes his company’s role as ship brokers. [00:36:25] Discusses different cargo that was exported – not just coal; tinplate, timber and matches were too. [00:38:15] Mentions what happened with crew change overs. [00:44:34] Recalls helping sailors who ended up in hospital.

Part 2 [Tape 1 Side B] [00:32:13]: [00:00:12] Valentine Coode [VC] recalls a Mrs McCoy who lived in Tiger Bay who would sort out people to clean the ships. [00:03:13] Remembers the Böe family who ran the Norwegian boarding house. [00:05:50] Discusses the different departments in the company he worked for. [00:08:40] Every year a luncheon was held for Norwegian War Veterans. [00:11:10] Recalls meeting King Olaf. [00:15:05] Describes the decrease of trade and closure of many Norwegian companies. [00:17:30] Recalls getting involved with Norwegian celebrations after moving to Newport. [00:19:45] Tells joke of sailors visiting the Norwegian church for coffee and comments on drinking habits of sailors. [00:22:15] Talks about childhood in Cathays. [00:24:20] Describes how ships had to be met regardless of time of day; comments on his grievances of meeting ships on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. [00:27:55] Talks about his close relations with Norwegian captains. [00:29:00] Recalls anecdote of meeting with a Norwegian chief engineer. [00:30:10] Mentions an airplane journey on an official trip to Norway.

79 min 29 sec

Yes

Glamorgan Archives and National Library of Wales

Open

UNLW023/13