Individual results

Interviewee: Mr Paul Collins
Interviewer: Stacey Bains

Track 1
Born 3 Dec 1976/1977?, in Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry. Older brother, Tony, who lives in London. Lives with mother. Good relationship with Tony. Hung around with brother friends until 8 years old. Relationship lulled when Tony at university. Now visit each other regularly. Dad died when 17 years old. Never as close to mother. Parents lenient. Shares parents values. Doing right/good. Getting a good education/ job. Don't want to be like parents but do in the end.

Track 2
Family holidays every summer. Ireland frequently. Prestatyn best because adventure holiday. Aunt/ uncle in Coventry, the rest in Ireland/ London. Quite close to auntie/ cousins as similar age. Earliest memory, milk taken off him at school and being thrown out car as a baby. Can picture first classroom. Went to Christ the King Infant/ Junior School. Cardinal Newman Secondary. Change to juniors, scary. Secondary school very big. New classes. Was put with best friend, so happy. Liked school. Enjoyed academic work. OK at exams.

Track 3
'A' Levels, economics and geography. Dropped French, no point if getting an 'E'. Kicked out of biology. Never known what wanted to do. Wanted to go to University because enjoyed studying. Didn't know which career wanted. Dropped accountancy after a year. Did geography degree. Not much future in it. Works at City Graphics. Does not want job using geography. Wants to be sports photographer. Going to do journalism course in Sheffield. Only place to do it. Went to Liverpool University. Good city. Football city. In Liverpool for four years. Coventry a come down. Novelty worn off. Tedious. Nothing changes.

Track 4
Hung around the park with friends. Played football. Worked in local Social Club at 15 years of age. Glass collector. Went to town with older boys. Went drinking. Worked until 18 years old and, in summer ,when at university. Plays football for parish team. Goes to 'Colliseum' on Saturday nights. Pubs. 'Golden Cross', 'Courtyard', 'Varsity', ' Weatherspoons'. Same every week. Plays golf and snooker. Been to Spain and Greece with friends.

Track 5
Enjoyed New York with family. Went to China, Amsterdam, Glasgow with degree course. Goes to Birmingham/ Leamington with the lads. Goes to Cinema two to three times a month, on Sundays. Never been to 'Belgrade' Theatre. Never had serious relationship. Marriage a long way off. Marriage not important yet. Not thought much about having children. Would like too eventually. Sees himself as underachiever. Needs to do something. Can't do it here. Doesn't think he will be in Coventry in future. Doesn't mind Coventry.

Track 6
Takes pride in city. Supports Coventry City. Attends games. Less now sold Robbie Keane. Big fan. More of a fan when moved away. Strong sense of community because Catholic and local parish. Know everyone at church and social club. Made to go to church until 16 years old. No longer attends. Not religious, but has set of values from church. Believes in God. Always think somewhere else is better. Enjoys living here. Is happy. Feels should be doing something. Needs direction. Has friends and money, so happy. Hopes to do journalism course and find out what he really wants. Wants it to fall into his lap. Has fallen into present job.

Track 7
Biggest fear is getting stuck in dead end job. He's lazy

Coventry Lives Oral History Project, date of birth: 03/12/1976/77?