Di.Poppitt
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
This was a tape recording that is in the Hurst Street back to backs, told by a man who in 1935 was thirteen years old.
His mother had no money, and went to a tribunal to be 'means tested', which was enough to put fear into the stoutest of hearts. She took all of her nine children with her, and was asked how long had she been without money, 'Six weeks'. Are you married? 'Yes'. Where's your wedding ring?
'At the pawn shop'. Have you got the ticket? She said she had, and produced it. She was told that she would get a visit the following week, as they must see how she was living. When she got home anything of any value was taken to a neighbour, but the tribunal felt she had too much in the way of household goods. They left just enough to enable the family to eat off and cook with, also taking a bed as they said the four girls could sleep together. When everything was sold the sum of £16 was raised, the family were given £13 and told they must manage with that for twelve
weeks. The boy of thirteen was told he must find work, which he did. He found a job and worked for 54 hours a week.
His mother had no money, and went to a tribunal to be 'means tested', which was enough to put fear into the stoutest of hearts. She took all of her nine children with her, and was asked how long had she been without money, 'Six weeks'. Are you married? 'Yes'. Where's your wedding ring?
'At the pawn shop'. Have you got the ticket? She said she had, and produced it. She was told that she would get a visit the following week, as they must see how she was living. When she got home anything of any value was taken to a neighbour, but the tribunal felt she had too much in the way of household goods. They left just enough to enable the family to eat off and cook with, also taking a bed as they said the four girls could sleep together. When everything was sold the sum of £16 was raised, the family were given £13 and told they must manage with that for twelve
weeks. The boy of thirteen was told he must find work, which he did. He found a job and worked for 54 hours a week.
Di I remember even in the early 50's going with mom to see what was then known as 'The Panel' armed with heaps of paper and information about our family and having to prove that Dad was registered as Blind and that my brother and sister attended a school for children with poor vision. We also had visits from a chap about once every two weeks. He used to frighten me to death, he would bellow questions at mom and even ask me things like “Where’s your father?” “How many sisters do you have and how many brothers?” “ Where are your toy’s?” I wasn’t even 5yrs old, but was expected to answer and the answers were always the same “He’s at the blind place”. ”‘Our Ken, our laine “ “Ain’t got none”. We had nothing to hide, because we had nothing back then.
