John Henderson

One of 14 children - another still suffers from First World War wounds, was given "light work" night shifts in Felling colliery. Another killed there; and another with family in an air raid. Describes the house in Hopper Street in detail - the partitioning of rooms, the arrangement of buckets of clean and dirty water for washing. Shared yard with two others, hard earth closet, coal house, washing area. Describes poss stick. Household chores. Slept three in a bed. Training as a cabinet maker, first piece was a bed-chair. Father made unemployed in 20s, given job cleaning brass. John cleaned fender. Others had other jobs, mother house-proud. Stotty cake with herring. Mother was "local good woman" (midwife), would take bags of hot rock salt as a hot water bottle. Would give children buns if they knocked at the door. Pressing ox tongue with metal lid from the street. Butcher took three sovereigns from her. "my mother won the first world war" - sent pot pies to sons in the army {joke}. Another brother went to London, worked on magazine "machinery" and knew where all the machinery was across the country. Father would make meals in the very early morning for the lads coming in or going out - John was last up, got bacon skin. Street herring sellers, would gradually decrease price over the day. Other street sellers and their calls, including the glazier; knife grinder used contraption attached to bicycle for sharpening. From eleven, worked part time at a barbers. Once persuaded to do a cut throat razor shave without training, cut the man badly. Confused people with logic puzzle based on truth of his fellow worker borrowing and returning money. Describes barbers. Women would cut each other's hair. Mother's horror at sister's bobbed hair. Celebrations at New Year, took out drink, would congregate, sing, listen to the bells, kissing, then back home to continue socialising. Played forfeits - a mock "trial" for stupid offence, passing girl along might get to see her bloomers. Detailed description of how to play a game with cherry stones, also marbles. Sledging and box carts. Mother prized brother's bicycle after he died, so when he broke it had to get another brother to repair without telling her. Usually could find someone to fix things. Going to school, various things learned. Brother was bedbound after bike accident for a year, worked out way to find cube roots - got in trouble for using it at school as thought to be cheating. Getting points and prizes, would cheat. Teacher gave sixpence to one boy at random each week. Given 20 minutes off to see sisters get married. Learned lots of songs off sisters. Scala theatre. Tiny houses in passageways in Gateshead.

Location: Gateshead
County: Tyne and Wear
AUD2007-17

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