| Collection | Winstanley Oral History Collection |
| Description | Mr. A. Boulden, born 1897, interviewed in New Romney. Boulden's father was a farm labourer. Boulden worked as a caddie at Littlestone Golf Course, and a boy messenger for P. O. Postman
Track 1 [1:11:01] [Interview: 31st March 1977] [0:00:00] Introduction: interview of Mr Archie Boulden [AB] at his home 35 New Station Road, New Romney, Kent by Michael Winstanley of the University of Kent at Canterbury on 31st March 1977. [0:00:24] Description of AB’s early life, attending St Mary in the Marsh and Romney Church of England schools, holiday job caddying at Littlestone Golf Club, joining Post Office 1911 as Boy Messenger. Detailed description of covering for postmen on Newchurch and Dungeness rounds. [0:07:33] Detailed description of Boy Messenger role, hours, pay. [0:08:29] Detailed description of work as postman in Ashford 1914. Mention of head Post Office in Bank Street. [0:12:18] Description of work as postman in Wye, Hastingleigh area. [0:15:18] Description of army career, enlisting 1915, training at Blackheath, Salisbury, Ipswich, Felixstowe, journey to France via Southampton and Le Havre, fighting at battle of Arras Easter Sunday 1917. Adverse comments on using 9th Lancers and Worth Yeomanry at Arras. Story about bullet in tin of bully. Mention of serving with Corporal Bert Taylor. [0:19:09] Detailed description of caddying, usually by schoolboys, sometimes by unemployed men. Mention of famous Littlestone golfers, AJ Balfour, Mrs Asquith’s brother Frank Tennant of Lympne, Faithful Begg [Ferdinand Begg stockbroker and MP], Lord Cottenham, Paravicini family. Mention of Herd family, AB’s schoolfriend Bruce later professional US golfer, father David professional golfer at Littlestone, brother Sandy. Mention of Greatstone Links and formation of Littlestone Artisans Club. Mention of other famous Littlestone players, Ambrose the band leader, Sir Philip Sassoon World War I air minister of Port Lympne. Mention of caddy master Bill Hayles. Description of golfers’ dress. [0:33:30] Comments on using caddying wages to buy comics, Boys own paper, Alley Sloper, Magnet, Gem, Marvel. [0:34:54] Mention of Bruce Herd emigrating to US 1920, marrying 1921 Rye Church with AB as best man. [0:35:31] Detailed description of Boy Messenger role at New Romney, boiling sealing wax, delivering telegrams. Mention of Mrs Pomeroy post mistress at New Romney. Remarks about Coastguard Station in St Mary’s Bay, demolished 1912, known as ‘27’ as built on site of 27 Martello Tower demolished 1874. Mention of Northlade, demolished for [Lydd] airport runway. Description of boy messenger and postman uniforms. Mention of introduction of motorcycles 1927, vans 1937. [0:44:13] Comments on part time postmen pre 1914. [0:45:36] Detailed description of mail arrival and despatch at New Romney, taking mail daily by horse to Folkestone via Lydd, Hythe, Dymchurch, Sandgate, overnighting at Folkestone Post Office, returning via same route with mail to New Romney. Mention that mail contracted to Carey Bros of Romney then Tom Stanley of Lydd. Comments on later changes, 1919 mail coming from Ashford by train, late 1920s mail coming from Folkestone by motor van, 1930s mail coming from Ashford via train and road. Mention that AB returned to New Romney 1919 remaining there until retirement. [0:49:58] Detailed description of collections, deliveries, post offices and postal districts around New Romney. Mention of post offices at Ivychurch and Newchurch. Mention that Sunday deliveries ceased in 1920s. Description of telegram service. Mention of messenger boys Jim Austin (later a carpenter) and Johnny Best. [0:58:05] Adverse comments on farm work, poor wages, hard work, effect on health. [1:02:06] Story about seeing Abbeville [France] to Bournemouth air race in August 1911, Dutch pilot Kimmerling crashing his sommer mono plane near St Mary’s [Albert Kimmerling, killed in aviation accident 9th June 1912]. [1:06:34] Description of postman’s uniform. [1:07:21] Comments on intelligence test and stiff medical exam, especially for tuberculosis, to enter postal service. |