Walter Nunn interviewed by Robert Aitchison

Oral history interview with Walter Nunn recorded and conducted by Robert Aitchison on 2nd June 2004 as part of the Time Tracks oral history collecting initiative. Duration: 1 hour. Set up in Shildon after the second World War; cost of living; canvassed for labour party; other industries in Shildon as well as railway; use of horses; loss of jobs at Shildon railway works; [00:05:00] competition from Newton Aycliffe; communities; lack of running water; Darlington Rural covered part of Shildon; effect of tuberculosis on housing list; [00:10:00] points system for housing list; social problems; welder affected by overcrowding; queue jumping; [00:15:00] new towns; industry needed; closure of works influenced new plans; school leavers; [00:20:00] Shildon works holidays; British Railways Touring club; travel abroad; deckchair story; timetables; good behaviour; [00:25:00] no burglaries until 1970’s; anti-social behaviours; looking after your mates; collecting money for poor people from poor people; [00:30:00] personal views of 1950’s, 1960’s 1970’s as a time for opportunity; socialist principles; methodist preacher; [00:35:00] personal views on Tory party; levels of poverty, general health, vaccination in 1960’s; [00:40:00] retirement housing, bungalows, Shildon; peel potatoes or go to church service; sermon about bucket of ink and water; [00:45:00] leisure, entertainment in Shildon, Hippodrome Magnet Cosy, sound effects at cinema, different film every night of week, first films named, radio in 1920’s and 1930’s; [00:50:00] nightingale bird singing across Europe; Monday night at 7 or 8; listening to Larry Adler; first stretch of motorway; test card C on television; [00:55:00] cinemas dropped off; amateur pantomime and musicals; personal views of television; relationship with neighbours [00:59:52] [end of interview]

Time Tracks, Shildon Railway Village Community Project was an initiative funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund that encouraged members of the public to bring photographs and documents at Locomotion to form a community archive, when Locomotion museum was opened in Shildon, 2004. Over 50 oral history interviews were also recorded with members of the community. They shared their memories of Shildon as they knew it in their childhood and throughout their lives, from as early as the 1920s, as well as their work experiences in local factories and industries, including Shildon railway works.