| Collection | Winstanley Oral History Collection |
| Description | Mr. F. J. Quinnel, born 1894, interviewed in Ightham. His father died when he was six, he was a blacksmith, mother took up charwork, laundry work, and a job as a school caretaker (1902). He was elder of two boys, lived with grandma. Jobs were mainly in service, odd boy, gardener and chauffeur.
Track 1 [1:17:07] [Session 1: first interview: 9th February 1976] [0:00:00] Introduction: interview of Mr Fred J Quinnell [FQ] at Quinnell’s house by Mr Michael Winstanley of the University of Kent at Canterbury on 9th February 1976. FH born in 1894 and grew up in Ightham for most of his life as a Special Constable of Kent. [0:01:30] FQ begins to describe his father’s background as a blacksmith until he died at 30. He then describes how his mother supported the family after his death. [0:03:38] His mother was a caretaker at the Ightham school and made £12 a year. He further breaks down their finances, such as the cost of rent, coal and skimmed milk. [0:06:40] FQ remembers the first milkman in his village. At this time, when he was very young, he went to live with his grandmother who used to make their bread with his mother. He also discusses other foods that they had, such as meats and corn that one could take from the field. [0:11:53] After the milkman, FQ tells about the baker in his town and going to collect the bread every week, after church on Sunday. [0:13:54] FQ continues talking about his grandmother. She was still young enough to work picking in the fields. This was a common job for women who were able that his grandmother did until she came to live with him until she died. [0:16:11] FQ speaks about the Poor Law and the Parish Relief. Before this, his grandmother was the matron of the workhouse and had her own facilities for baking. His grandfather was the foreman of a quarrying farm, though he died when they were living at the common. [0:23:52] FQ’s first job was working at the school tearing up exercise books to light the fires as a child. [0:25:23] FQ’s mother started work at 7.00 am in the school until about 4.00 pm. She used to work during the holidays to keep the school clean and didn’t get time off to go fruit picking, but never complained about having to work so much. [0:30:38] FQ discusses poverty at the time. He would not say that they were poor, but an ordinary working family. [0:33:03] FQ’s first job after school was working under a butler cleaning silver. After, he got a job in the gardens in Warren for his health. He used to do odd jobs for people as well, fixing lights and as a chauffeur. He began working at 13 1/2 and never went on unemployment. [0:43:59] Though he grew up in the land, FQ never wanted to work in farming. He was in a bugle band and was part of the boys club as the war broke out because an old sergeant major created drills for the boys in the town. Because of the war, there were quite a few foreigners coming that joined their clubs. [0:50:13] FQ describes what his school was like, including the children that went with him, what was given to them in terms of facilities for eating, the courses he was taught. They were very strict at school but he doesn’t remember being bashed by the master if he’d done something wrong. They were also strict about the children being at school so he never knew many who stayed home to help. [0:57:00] FQ discusses children trying to get scholarships. He tried for the civil service, but the doctor said it wouldn’t be good for him to work indoors, so he dropped it. [1:00:02] The school never helped children find jobs, he had to find all of his positions himself, through word of mouth, but he joined the Oddfellows society which helped him around town. FQ then discusses the meaning of “club days” and what they involved. [1:12:29] Finally, FQ discusses the change of spirit that he’s seen in the country since he was young because of jobs, politics, and ways of life.
Summary created by Reese Wix, volunteer, September 2025. |