Seaton Sluice - Sound

Transcription of an interview with Bob Thompson recorded on the 11^th June 1973

Mr. Thompson was born in 1896. During the full recording he recalls farming, aspects of general life in the Seaton Sluice area since just before the First World War.

During this extract he talks about his schooling and the discipline he received from the teachers.

[Transcription]

Do you remember your school days as fairly free what about the discipline, do you call it hard?

Oh they used the cane to some extent in those days, but I don't think I ever had the cane, but some of the teachers were quite efficient in the use of the cane, no question about that, it was used very freely.

We had a chap called Mr Wilson, he lived in Blyth in Wellington Street, he left a big impression on the Sluice school. He went away and became Headmaster up Prudhoe. I think he left a big impression on my age group, did Mr Wilson, far more than the Headmaster did.

 

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This tape recording comes from the large collection of oral history recordings held by the Northumberland Archive Service. Interviews were conducted by Record Office staff from the early 1970's right through until the mid 1980's. The purpose of the recordings was to capture the essence of life in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Many different subjects were covered, including coalmining, farming, fishing, domestic life, World Wars and entertainment. Over 350 recordings have been collected comprising approximately 700 hours of recollections.

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