Individual results

Interviewee: Mrs Helen Frances Wilkinson
Interviewer: Helen Whitcombe

Track 1
Born 27 Nov 1959. Born Keresley Hospital maternity unit. Always lived in Coventry. Oldest of five children, close in age. Father came over to London, from Ireland, aged 16 years, then joined his brother in Coventry. Worked at Morris car factory. Later worked for Focus Housing in Birmingham. Mother worked as a cobbler in Bell Green. Parents did community work in Wood End, set up youth groups, helped build the youth centre there. A close family all living in Coventry.

Track 2
Growing up got on well with siblings, she used to take charge because she was the eldest. Worked as a unit, had household tasks. Dad got rid of the television. Worked on allotment. Father one of sixteen. Kids didn't notice when the television went, too busy. She was a quiet person, felt she had a supporting role in the family. Parents were strict, keen on manners.

Track 3
Father had an 'aura', knew they couldn't step over the line. She never really got into trouble. Parental influences, particularly community work. Involved in Irish festival, Irish dancing. Values. Family income was supplemented. Family visits to jumble sales. Always had family holidays once a year. All worked on allotment together. Had meals together. Played netball for Warwickshire. Siblings played together.

Track 4
Playing netball, played for Warwickshire, West Midlands, had trials for England. Nurse training meant she had to give up netball. Did Irish dancing for about a year, but too expensive to keep on. Her daughters have been dancing for about ten years. Have to be committed, takes up a lot of time. Have been to America, Canada, Ireland. Financial input. Winning, but important that they do their best.

Track 5
Youngest daughter is a bit of a champion. No rivalry between daughters. As well as netball she liked tennis, outdoor pursuits. Trips to Wales, went on an excursion to the Isle of Skye, rock climbing etc. Still does camping, walking etc. Didn't really like discos, too noisy, used to go occasionally. Clubs were dark, noisy, too crowded. Siblings used to like clubs.

Track 6
Brother used to go to the 'Locarno'. Used to like Radio 1, didn't really buy records. Remembers Two Tone, but didn't go to watch the bands. Went to St Patricks RC Infant and Junior schools, and to Cardinal Wiseman Girls School, left in 1978. Enjoyed school, taught by nuns, sad to leave. Changing schools, mum bought a new uniform and huge satchel. Good headmistress.

Track 7
School had a good reputation. Liked all subjects, did 'A' Level History and English. Worked hard for exams. Did fairly well at school, could have done better. Enjoyed an all round school life because good at sport. Always wanted to be a nurse. Catholic upbringing, going to mass.

Track 8
Has a belief in God, has to go to mass because of that. Has a sense of community, but not into church fetes and coffee mornings etc. Had a paper round at school, and worked in a butchers. Got cheap meat, interesting job, worked on the counter, cleaning. Can't remember how much money she earned, but used to spend it on meat for the family. Used to save up dinner money to buy birthday presents for mum and dad.

Track 9
One brother was plumper than the rest so they used to have to let him have so many dinners a week! Kids were always fed well at home, had a spoonful of cod liver oil every morning. Never saved up to spend money on herself. Thought she was better off than others in Wood End, never felt like they missed out on anything. Thinks she would be able to manage on a small income if she had to, but children haven't acquired those skills. Kids (children) have had a comfortable life. After school trained to be a nurse.

Track 10
Started nurse training at Kettering General Hospital. Would come home every weekend. Enjoyed training and missed home and family. Returned to Coventry, worked at Walsgrave Hospital as a staff nurse on the Ear Nose and Throat ward. Had first daughter, Rebecca, and started working nights, then took an evening job as a Community Staff Nurse at Stoke Aldermoor Clinic. Had second daughter whilst working there. Later did Bachelor of Science degree at Birmingham University. Now works as District Sister in Canley. Having a career is important.

Track 11
Future career plans, nursing management. Changing role of nurses, community health needs. Moving to Kettering, didn't like it, missed her family, felt like she was waiting for it to be over. Met her husband in a night club, age 17 years old. Relationships with boys, Dad used to turn them away, "Come back when she's 18!"

Track 12
Got married aged 22 years old. Parents quite strict about boys. Felt like boys were separate going to an 'All Girls' school. Quite a tom-boy, good at sports, older than many of the boys in her street so was just as good as them at running, throwing etc. Wasn't interested in them as boyfriends, saw it as a competition. Brother had different rules. Strict about eating as a family, being home. Boys and girls treated a bit differently by parents.

Track 13
Met her husband at club called the 'Pink Parrot' in the town centre. Went with friends, he bought her a half a lager, he got a taxi but they couldn't afford one so walked home. Used to meet once a week in the Black Prince pub, on Sunday evenings, he did most of the talking! He was a keen cyclist. Different family background to her, not immigrants starting at the bottom. Parents approved.

Track 14
Has fairly open attitude about her daughters' relationships with boys. One daughter is quiet, the other more outgoing. Thinks she is softer than her parents were. Didn't really get to know her Dad until she was older, he was quite distant - an Irish male stereotype.

Track 15
Still quite strongly influenced by her parents. Always thought she would be a mother. As the oldest child she has always had a 'looking after people' role. Has no spare time these days. A lot of time taken up by children's dancing. Likes cooking, gardening, mountain walking. Thinks she is a Coventry person, but has a strong Irish influence. Feels like there is something missing as her father's family homestead in Ireland has been sold recently.

Track 16
A family gathering in Parsons Town in Ireland. Thinks family is important. Her siblings don't feel such a strong Irish influence. Thinks the Irish link is why she sends her daughters to Irish dancing, and why she and her husband help organise the Irish Festival.

Track 17 (Loud flushing noises during this track)
Father started the Coventry Irish Festival when he was Lord Mayor. Has enjoyed living in Coventry, wouldn't want to move away. Hope children have a happy life, has no real fears, not a pessimistic person. Ambition to go to Mount Kilimanjaro. Thinks she is very fortunate, happy with how her life has turned out so far.

Track 18
Interview ends.

Coventry Lives Oral History Project, date of birth: 27/11/1959