Archive (1372 life histories found)
'Shopping in Strabane in 1940s/50s was always in a proprietor driven shop'
It was understood in a small country town that local shops gave credit without documentation. It was also assumed that the householder would pay, eventually when he took the notion. Never would it be alluded to other than an occasional (posted)…
Tags: Beano, comics, Dandy, draper, grocery, Local shops, message boy, shopkeepers, Shopping, The Eagle
'In the cinema the films came by rail in large metal boxes and changed every 2 days.'
In the house Paul (eldest) and myself always shared bed, sisters still in cots and maid had own room. Large brown blankets/cloths were draped over windows to make room dark and make us sleep. Entertainment was the wireless that farted more than…
'The Master held the cane in his hand most of the time as keeping order was a big part of his job'
School in Strabane was the Convent (5-6 years old) and Barrack Street Boys' Primary (7-14 years old). In Northern Ireland you had to pass the '11 plus' in order to access 2nd level (St Columb's in Derry). The standard of education in Barrack St…
'Uncle Jim buried 100 gallon tanks of petrol before the war to be prepared for shortage but never found them again'
My father had old car on blocks in yard, no petrol to drive. Uncle Jim buried 100 gallon tanks of petrol before the war to be prepared for shortage but never found them again. We had a tea chest full of tea (hoarded) disguised as a pouffe in the…
'No heat other than the range and geyser in the kitchen for hot water'
Born during the war (rationing), all travel by bicycle, lived in 4 bed semi detached (Galban, Derry Rd, Strabane) (rented) with maid living in. Annie Coyle from St Johnston in Donegal. She was paid 30 shillings a month and worked full day (7 am to…
'In later life she had a white baby grand piano in the living room, although she could not play the piano!'
In February 1973 my adoptive mother died suddenly,one and a half years after my late husband. A neighbour alerted the police that she had not been seen that morning. The police broke into the house and found my mother unconscious. Pamela and I…
'Sadly my husband died on what was to be our last holiday'
In 1965 my husband Tom took his first heart attack,Pamela was only 4 years old. This was a very difficult time for me. A family,belonging to the church which we attended,came for my daughter every Sunday for Sunday school. The church is Rosemary…
'I then had to tell my husband about finding these papers'
After my marriage I accidently found my birth certificate,informing me I had been adopted at birth. This was a terrible shock for me. My natural mother had not been married. My father's name on the birth certificate was 'not known'. I then had to…
Tags: adoption, birth certificate
'I can't believe how the years have flown'
Pamela,Stephen and the family moved from Priory Park to Lisburn to live in 1999. After my friend Eric's death in 2002 I developed a painful knee and decided after 12 years to sell my home in Priory Park and move in to live with my daughter and the…
Tags: content, dolls house, family
'I happened to notice an invitation in the Belfast Telegraph inviting readers to visit an old school in Annsborough Co. Down'
In 1990 the opportunity arose for me to buy a small semi-detached house in Priory Park Finaghy. My daughter and her husband and the family lived in Priory Park,therefore I sold the house in Edinburgh Street and moved to Finaghy. I continued my work…