Oral Recollections
of WW2
in Kidderminster
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Orbal reminiscences by seven contributors to the 2006 publication of "Kidderminster & District in World War 2" were recorded by Bob Millward in 2005 and early 2006. These recordings are here made available (for personal use only) in MP3 format on this website. You will probably have to download the file rather than play it online depending on the software included on your computer. Beware some of the files are quite large varying between 6 and 75 MB. To access a recorded recollection click on the contributor's coloured underlined name below.
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The original unedited tape recordings are now held by the Archive Service at the Hive.
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Jessie Maskell (née Hatton) was born in 1914. She had been a weaver for Tomkinson's and worked there in the 'bomb' shop during WW2. Later she worked for Adam's carpet factory off Birmingham road near the Land Oak.
Recorded: 12 May 2005. Time: 40 min. File size: 36 MB
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Peter Carter born in 1926, and Monica Hill's brother, was at Hartlebury Grammar School when WW2 began but, even so, joined the ARP. Much later he was to serve as a local councillor and Town Mayor.
Recorded: 23 May 2005. Time 38 min. File size: 34 MB
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Margaret Phelan (née Pugh) was born in Kidderminster in 1927. Margaret was a Unitarian Lay preacher at the New Meeting Church for many years and became involved with many local societies including the Kidderminster & District Archaeological & Historical Society, the Kidderminster Civic Society and she served as a voluntary steward at the National Trust property Hanbury Hall. Her excellent knowledge of Kidderminster, combined with her phenomenal memory, made her a 'go to' person for queries about Kidderminster past. Recorded: 25 July 2005. Time: 25 min. File size: 22 MB
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John James Russell born 1928. Owned the Audio & TV business in Coventry Street (opened in 1942 by his father) and ran it until 2002.
Recorded: 24 August 2005. Time: 7 min. File size: 6 MB
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Marjorie Rivers Long time member of the Kidderminster & District Archaeological & Historical Society who lived her early life in Shatterford. She was a schoolteacher during the war - mainly in Evesham. There is much non-WW2 content but some events in Kidderminster & Shatterford are recalled.
Recorded: 30 October 2005. Time 30 min. File size: 27MB
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Monica Hill (née Carter) born 1928. Was Peter Carter's sister and friend of Margaret Phelan. During the war the Carter family lived in Larches Avenue.
Recorded: 7 December 2005. Time: 39 min. File size: 35 MB
Alf Mole was born in 1934 and brought up in Lorne street (No. 120). He recalls WW2 experiences in Kidderminster as a youth.
Recorded: 16 January 2006. Time: 1hr 16 min. File size: 69 MB