Individual results

Interviewee: Anne Hubery

Track 1
Born in Dublin. Went to school in Dublin. Parents bought a farm in Kildare, when Anne was 15 years old. Went to St. Louis Convent, which she enjoyed. For twelfth birthday parents bought a bike, cycled to school, took half an hour. Careful not to get caught in the tramlines. Played basketball. Moved to Selbridge, fifteen miles from Dublin. Went across city to school on the bus. At 17 years old, did a Business Studies Course. Teacher had heart attack, half way through course, visited her in hospital.

Track 2
Coming home from hospital saw a 4 year old girl hit by bus, unconscious, stayed with her. Took her into a little old man's house, by roadside. Went into hospital with her, in the ambulance as parents hadn't arrived. "That's when I decided to go nursing, because I felt so helpless, not knowing what to do for her." Relative was a Matron at St Bart's, in London, said she would send her the papers. Then saw an advert in 'Women and Home' magazine. Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. "Join the Army, and see the World". Get three free passes home a year. Paid while training, didn't happen in Ireland. Had to pay £90 to go to the 'Richmond', in Dublin, for year's training. Wanted to be independent, eldest of nine children. Within two or three days of writing to the Queen Alexandra's, had a letter back. Dad (a policeman opened it.)

Track 3
Go to Belfast for interview. Had to ask Dad's permission to go, not too happy. Passed test and medical. Could she go to England the following week, April 5th 1957. Shocked and excited. Brother said " you can change your mind you don't have to go." On train met a girl she vaguely knew, had been a nun and was also going to nurse in England. Train to Belfast, boat to Heysham, train to Waterloo, then to Surrey, picked up in Liphook in an army jeep, to Hindhead. Three months military training, "square bashing". Oath of Allegiance to the Queen.

Track 4
I respected the Royal family then, it wasn't a problem. When I was 16 years old, I sold flags to end partition, I wanted a united Ireland, one day. Did the next best thing came over and mixed the breed! Father hero-worshipped Churchill, had all his books, well read, worked at Guinness, then became a policeman. I used to love to sing the old Irish songs (in bath, not barracks!) Did three months P.T. (Preliminary Training) at Aldershot. Then went to Catterick Military Hospital, on the wards. Anatomy and physiology difficult, like learning a new language. Never heard the terminology before.

Track 5
At school spoke Irish. Hated history, biased. Loved Yorkshire (Catterick). Went to NAAFI dances, court martialled if not back in at 9.00pm. Pale blue dress, uniform, gold buttons, black shoes and stockings.

Track 6
Made a lot of good friends, one still sends Christmas cards, after more than thirty-eight years. After Catterick, went to Malta for eighteen months, novelty at first. On standby for Cyprus. Lot of trouble, nurses sent to Cyprus. Trouble with Suez, petrol rationing. Jeeps and lorries blown up with British soldiers in, some were killed. Had an affair with a chap from Northern Ireland, Bambridge. He was 28 years old, I was 20 years old. Parents wouldn't let us get engaged, asked to meet him first. Matron also frowned on it because I was under 21 years old. He was a Regular, after he went back I realised I was expecting. So scared didn't tell anybody until I was five months. Told a Marine Commando,

Track 7
Four of us had gone to see 'Farewell to Arms' (about a nurse who had had a baby), I flipped, and told this chap, he'd been asking me to go out with him, he'd gone to the Matron, to get a medic to examine me, to see if I was. Matron sent for me, he'd led her to believe it was his baby, and it wasn't, but I wouldn't tell them who the father was. She arranged for me to go back to Ireland, I had to let on that my Grandad was poorly, and I had to go home, I didn't let on to anybody, because it was very frowned upon in those days. Went back to Surrey, worked till I was eight and a half months, still hadn't told parents, frightened of what father would say. Went to 'Mother and Baby' home, run by Catholic Nuns. Hostel first, near Vauxhall London.

Track 8
'Mother and Baby' home in Surrey countryside, full of girls in the same boat, I was put to work in the labour ward up until a few minutes before my own baby was born. I was lucky I was a nurse or I could have been scrubbing dirty nappies on scrubbing boards, trying to get them clean, in the laundry. Every single girl had to work. No pay. Not easy. Pretended to parents I was doing maternity. Baby was born on 27th Feb. 1960 I decided to have it adopted. Matron wrote to say I could come back when baby was six months old. Little girl, she was lovely.

Track 9
Job changed from labour ward to dairy, had to prepare bottles, very few mothers breast fed, because the babies were to be adopted. Enjoyed job, quite high profile. When baby was eight weeks old took it to Church in Southwark, in London, remember that morning going up on train, and she just held my little finger. I found her after 38 years. I kept writing to the priests who said she had been told only relevant details. I kept hoping when she was 16 years old or 18 years old she would try and find me. I have four children with Tony, and I told them all when they were 16 years old, because I was always hoping one day………. My eldest daughter said "remember I'm the eldest in this family," knew I had to tread carefully. When my Dad died, had a strong urge to find her.

Track 10
When I packed up work I went on a retraining course, and was told nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it - referring to jobs, but I knew I was determined to find her. I'd joined 'NORCAPS' register, told me to get in touch with 'St. Francis of Assisi', in Luton, then 'Father Hudsons Homes' in Birmingham, he suggested 'Adoption Register' in Birmingham. She told me a man in Surrey could help.

Track 11
He said 'going to be a long haul'. It took two years, she was married and living in Leicester, with a 10 year old son, 14 years old now. Husband a student. Got hold of husband through Passport people, he was her ex-husband, but he went and told her we were trying to get hold of her, she then got in touch. Slow process, writing letters, 'phone calls, photos sent. Tony and I picked them up from Coventry Station. I'd called her Margaret, her new parents had called her Martina. It just seemed as if I knew her, and I didn't. She was a grown woman.

Track 12
She was 38 years old. Talks like my daughters. Like her Dad. I had written when I was in Malta (to tell him I was pregnant) he didn't want to know at first, he suggested abortion, that finished me. Kick in the teeth. The morning I had her adopted, I had organised a job nursing people dying with cancer, at Clapham Common. Had no money, letter came from the father six weeks before, Nuns had opened it, and kept it from me, he wanted to meet up with me. Nuns felt I was too vulnerable, and could end up in same boat, when I got the letter I was stronger told him didn't ever want to see him again.

Track 13
Never got in touch. Got £20 cheque. Needed a break, went to Ireland with presents for everybody, Mum was in the cowshed milking, Mum said 'whats wrong?' She said 'why didn't you tell us?' I don't think my Dad ever knew.

Track 14
Went to Mayo, adoption society wanted me to sign forms, sisters found out and were sworn to secrecy. Went to Ermine Street and got a job as a waitress, until it was time to go back in the Army. Met husband, Tony, at Cambridge Military Hospital.

Track 15
This chap Nick used to help me feed the babies, we talked about 'fairy rings', he would tell his friends, one of them was Tony. Pipe smoker. Medic. Six of us went to 'Pictures' (cinema). Tony was engaged to a Danish girl. I was seeing a boy in Ireland.

Track 16
We went to a farewell do and Tony asked me out. I told him I had had a baby. I thought no bloke would want to know. Met, engaged and married in one year. I was to be posted to Singapore, Tony was spurred on, asked me to marry him, which would stop it. Tony and Dad argued religion and politics. Both enjoyed that.

Track 17
Discussions, good talks, discuss all sorts of things. Never rowed. Tony was from Birmingham. Lived with his mum and dad for a while, it didn't work out. We opened a chemist shop in Cradley Heath. Tony did chiropody out the back and at one or two hospitals. Moved to Guildford, Surrey. Rented a nice bungalow. Karen was born, and fell pregnant again, and second born in Aldershot.

Track 18
Two years later Richard was born, nearly lost him. Bought a house in Aldershot. Tony decided he would get promotion. Went to wales to live in Cumbran. Rachael was born in Wales. Caesarian birth. Tony got promoted again and they moved to Stafford, made a lot of friends there. Tony decided he wanted to be chief chiropodist. Excited about moving to Coventry.

Track 19
A lot of Irish in Coventry. Moved here in 1978. Always lived in Prince of Wales Road. Kids went to All Souls School, and then Ullathorne School. Karen didn't want to stay on at school at 16 years of age. Got herself a job at Wimpys, in summer holidays, then went on a dressmaking course at the Butts College.

Track 20
Then went to the Lanchester Polytechnic, and then on to Nottingham University. Finally got herself a job in marketing at a place called Biddolph. Ended up a sales manager at the company. First impressions of Coventry were that it was nothing like it is now. Owen Owen was still there, and the Co-op. Used to like looking around the shops on the way home from work. Coming up to 40 years old when they came to Coventry.

Track 21
Got a part time job as grocery manager at Sainsbury's, in Trinity Street. Wanted more, so went to an agency and asked about courses. Liked figures so went on a TOPS course full time, for whole week with nothing to do. Did temp work at Chrysler and Abacus Computer Company. Strike at Chrysler, and all the temps were asked to leave. Left sitting in an office with all the other temps for a week with nothing to do. On the way home one evening she went and sat a test at the Brooke Street Agency. Went for a interview at Cov Rad., wasn't exactly what she wanted, but more money as a record clerk.

Track 22
Was there, from 1979 until 1995, had to take early retirement. She was shop steward there. Looked after each other. Became schedule clerk, and then senior production controller. First cousin of her mothers lived in Rugby and another sister in Coventry. Missed having an extended family. Whole family got into drama at the Wheatsheaf Public House. Treasurer for the Society for three or four years. Met another cousin at a play one night. Met Ellen Leonard through the drama society.

Track 23
Ellen was always talking about what was going on in the Irish community, and mentioned that they were looking for a secretary, and Anne had just retired from work, so she said 'Yes'. Did it for a few years and really enjoyed it. She felt like she belonged when she came to Coventry. Felt that she had some links here. Her nephew came over from Ireland last year, he was fascinated thought it was great here. In London shops are scattered about, in Coventry everything is close together and you don't have to walk very far to get to all the shops. Coventry is alive and thriving. She classes Coventry as home now. Thought about moving back, but Ireland has changed and so has she. All her friends are here.

Coventry Lives Oral History Project, date of birth: 1938