Eeyore completed full transcript Sepember 24th, 2006 after initial work by Marissa
12th May 1999
Could you give me your full name please?
Peggy Dibble
And where were you born and when?
I was born in Croydon, 18th January 1928. Huh!
Right.. so.. how long have you lived in Greenwich or around the Greenwich area?
33 years
Have you had much experience working around here?
I worked.. we used to have a little Woolworths up here (oh yeah..), and when I came up I worked in there for Christmas. Then we had a Freemans Warehouse down near Charlton. I worked there for about three years. Um.. but when I left Woolworths I went to the Gas Company in the canteen. I was only part-time but I didn't really see a lot of the work that went on there. Met most of the people, but didn't see a lot of the work. Um.. all I can really remember was these huge gasometers as we... as we went up - and very good pay - which frightened the life out of me because we didn't get good pay at that time. Um.. very nice people there and because I live local I used to walk, and on the way up to the Gas Company, to the Peninsula, there were all these weeny little houses that were the property of the Gas Company um.. and years before I came on the scene they used to provide houses for their workers. I don't think they are there any more - I'm sure they're not, but umm.. they were very old fashioned but they *had* been very nice little houses. All terraced houses.. um...
What was the wages like then?
I think I got round about £9 a week.. I was part-time.. I think I went in from half-past eleven until about half-past three and I think I got about £9 a week - which was an awful lot of money in those days.
What was you getting at Woolworths then where you were working before that?
About £3-£4... we weren't getting very much.
A bit of a jump then?
It was.. and as I say it quite frightened me really. It was hard work because I had ovens.. big ovens to clean out, floors to mop, salads to get ready.. things like that.
So major work for you then?
Oh.. I had to work for it, but I've had to work wherever I've been whether the money has been good or not.
Did you have a uniform to wear?
Overall.. overall.. I can't remember if we had a hat or not. But we had an overall anyway. Um.. it was.. don't get me wrong.. the people were quite nice.. it was just that it was a jump from very low wages to this big.. *big* money I mean I thought I was getting.. um.. and it just wasn't my type of.. although I'd been in catering in younger days I'd been a waitress so I hadn't sort of been behind the scenes um.. I just didn't like.. for some reason I didn't like getting all this big money. Huh!
Did you have to work with lots of people?
There was a Cook.. a Cook and an Assistant Cook and if you know anything about catering, I don't know about nowadays, but then, Cook/Assistant Cook was top dogs. You jumped! You know! And of course I was the lowest of the low really having to do gas stoves and everything.. but that didn't worry me (bye bye sweetheart.. sorry) um.. that didn't worry me.. I don't mind what I do. I don't know.. I don't know what it was. From there, they had a new Sainsburys opening at Woolwich and I went there. I had a bit of a nervous breakdown from the Gas Company, whether it was coming on, or whether it was that that just done it I don't know. So I stayed home for six months. Then I got a job at Sainsburys, I was so happy there I was there for 16 years, I retired from there. So, although the money wasn't good, it was work that I liked doing.
Were there many nice people working in the Gas Company?
Very nice.. they were all very nice. We.. I'm saying I was the lowest of the low.. but I'm afraid it was rather class-concious because you had this big canteen, but one side was for the workers and the side that I served the lunches on was for the office types. So.. and they were all very nice... they were very nice.. I don't like class conciousness. I think we are all the same and we should all stick together.
They used to enforce it quite a lot then?
Yeah. But then they did in lots of places.. I'm talking of.. oh... 30 years ago so office workers.. white tie.. white collar workers. You know. Quite different now isn't it?
Yeah.
But err. yes.. they were very nice people. The people thst I met were very very nice.
Did you socialise with many of your co-workers?
I didn't. I didn't because I had a young family anyway. But there were lots of things going on up there. A lady, a neighbour who used to live next door to me, she used to go up to dances and that they used to have Saturday night 'hops' probably. She used to go to dances up there. But I didn't mix. I was only there about two years I suppose, so I didn't want to mix somehow. I don't know why.
Not the sort of people you'd socialise with or..?
I suppose they could have been if I'd let them get to know me, or me get to know them, but.. the job - the atmosphere - directly I went there - I shouldn't have stayed there two years.. it wasn't.. wasn't the sort of atmosphere. No.
What can you remember of the surroundings of the factory.. what did it look like?
Umm.. dark.. horrible. Because as I say as you walked up to where the canteen was, which was right up there.. you had these great huge gasometers. Sometimes they were up high and sometimes they were low. It used to.. like a dome.. it used to come down as the gas was used. Loads of coke.. 'cos they burned coke to make the gas. Loads of that. Um... I think the offices and that were nice and the canteen was beautiful, and the Manager was there. Very nice man... stickler for cleanliness. So.. that was OK. It was just me - I just wasn't happy there - that was.. that was the point. But um..
Did you used to live far away from where you worked?
No... I still live just opposite the hospital so I could sort of go round the corner. About 12 minutes walk I suppose - which was OK. Um...
Did you have any relatives working there with you?
No... because I moved from Croydon up to here, so all my relatives are left in Croydon. My husband's relatives came from the other side of London, so.. um.. I had a friend up here you know.. um.. and we moved up here because my son was 16 wanted to work in the City. We lived at Addington which was quite a way from Croydon... and err.. we thought it would be better for *him* going to work.. so.. and we were ready.. we were ready to make a move. So err.. we found a little.. or my friend found a little place up here for us which I'm - *I'm* still in. All the boys are married. My husband died I'm afraid last year so.. I'm still there.
So you don't regret.. you don't regret moving up to Greenwich?
No.. no.. I love Greenwich. I like Greenwich. And the Park's lovely.
Yeah..
And I've got lots of friends in Greenwich now. I like Greenwich.
Do you think it has changed a lot from when you first moved?
Err... no I don't think it has... um.. a few of the shops and things have closed down of course, but then they have everywhere. No - I don't think this part of Greenwich I don't think it has altered at all.
Is the atmosphere still the same as it used to be?
Not quite so friendly... outside. But then you come in to a place like this and we're all friends no matter who/what we are.. you know.. so.. It's still around... friendliness is still around.
??
Yes.. yes.. Takes time.
Did you used to work seven days a week?
No.. I only worked five. That was one thing about the Gas Company. They only worked five. But just before that being in Woolworths you had to work six. I think you had Wednesday afternoon off. That was your half-day. They closed. But err.. the Gas Company was very.. of course they were Union. *That* was the thing that I think I didn't like. They were really strict Union people at the Gas Company and you couldn't overstep to help somebody else with *their* work because of the Union.
Sounds like a very unfriendly atmosphere really?
It could be....
Sectioning people away from each other.
It could be.. yes... yes.. but that was the fault of the Union I've got to say. Yes. Although on the other hand it was the Unions that gave them the good money (right..) and so...
What did you used to do in your spare time?
Huh..!! What did I used to do in my spare time?!! Huhh.. huhhh! Well I had two children - two boys. My husband was a milkman, so he worked seven days a week. But I have always done gardening, sowing, knitting, things like that. Really I was just a housewife, but I loved it. It was.. it was good and it took my time up.
What sort of things would you cook for the people at the Gas Works?
Well I didn't cook, I only made the salads, that's all they trusted me with! And of course you had a vegetable cook who prepared, and she had a person.. assistant.. prepared that and cooked the veg... Then you had the Cook who would cook the main meal, stew or whatever it was. Then you had a pastry cook who would do the sweets, puddings and things like that. Um.. I just done all the washing up and prepared the salads.
What did you do when you'd finished servimng the lunch after work? Was you allowed to...
We were given a lunch. We had good food. We all sat down for a break and we were given lunch and that was the same food as we'd served. So.. oh yes.. I shouldn't pick holes.. but it was just that I wasn't happy there.
No.. well if you weren't happy?
That's right, that's right.
So what was the house like you were living in?
I still live in the same house. Um.. It's a little two-up, two-down little terraced house. Small back garden.. no.. no frontage really.. and until last year we didn't have central heating. Last year.. it's a Council property.. last year they put us central heating in which is lovely! Um.. but we've kept it.. we've kept it nice and I shall probably stay on there until I can't use the stairs or anything anymore... because the loo is upstairs so you've got to be able to do that. But it's a nice little property. I'm quite happy there.
Did your boys go to school in thie area?
My eldest son was 16 so he'd just left school, but my younger boy was about nine or ten and he went to Annandale for a year or so, and then when he had to change school he went to Eltham Green. That was a comprehensive school, they's just brought comprehensive education in. But let me tell you that I.. I really believe in comprehensive education, because my Keith, lives in America now. He is a Chief Dealer of the First Bank of Chicago, and I really think it is all down to Eltham Green.
So. he's got a couple of pennies then?
Hahh! Just a few. Hah! Just a few! Huh!!
So he's got money like that but you still wouldn't move out of Greenwich?
No.
Has he ever asked you if you'd like to go over and live with him in America?
I could. Actually I went over there last Christmas. My husband and I went over a couple of years ago. I.. he wanted me to go over last Christmas. And he has just sent me a plane ticket to go over on 28th December till the 18th January so that I'm not here for the Millennium! (Ahhh!) Yeah!
What keeps you here?
I love it! I have got another son living at Abbey Wood and I've got five grandchildren, so I can't.. I wouldn't want to live in America. It's nice, it's clean. But this is home, this is home *and* I'm independent. I've got the kids there if I need them. If I want them they'll come. I go to Church here. I go to Rothbury. They're like a family. When my husbnd died I wouldn't have been able to get over it as quickly if I hadn't had all these people to lean on.. so...
Did you go to church since you've been living in Greenwich?
Errr.. it took me a while. My.. one of my younger grandsons is coming up to eighteen. He was about eight months. We went to his christening and the.. Harry.. my husband and I had just been on a holiday to Rome and we thought it was beautiful, and we went to this christening and the vicar was so awful.. really awful. I happened to do like that to one of the chilldren.. and he showed me up dreadfully in front of all those people. And something said there's got to be more than this. Church is not like this surely? Although I've always been a churchgoer, it lapsed when I had children because I was busy. And Rothbury wasn't up here then.. it was down there at Azof Street. If you want to take a walk down there, you'll still see a Mission. Um.. so I went.. it's only around the corner to me, and I went round there, and they were so friendly, so lovely I never looked back. Then we moved up here and we share the church with Christchurch. Our own separate services.. but... and now.. you want to talk to Chrissie who's just been out here... she's our Minister... and they probably are moving up to the Peninsula. Won't have a church built up there but they will have a Meeting House or whatever you call it... so.. um.. um..
So you are a strong religious person?
Yes.. yes.
Right.. so what sort of things would you do for entertainment? When like the children were looked after by someone else did you and your husband go out anywhere?
We didn't go out very much, but we used to like the pictures pictures.. called films movies whatever... we liked the pictures. Now and again.. perhaps for an anniversary we might go up to town to a Show if we could afford it, but we were quite poor. Because a milkman's's money weren't very good. But it kept us.. So if we had the money we'd do that. Um.. once a month I'd go back to my sister's in Croydon and we'd meet in one another's houses. Um.. because my sons were having there friends come in so that was all entertaining. But we never went out very much, because In those days once you had children you stayed in because of the children - can you understand what I mean? So, we got of the way of going out really, except to friends and up the Park and things like that. And of course the kids kept us going because they'd be at football with the school, so we would go and watch them. My Keith from Annandale used to go to cricket. Um.. so that was our entertainment. And it was free!
(Laughs)
Always the best way!!
That's right!
So, how about the local sport.. like Charlton and stuff like that? Did the boys used to go and watch the games?
Well - I hope I'm not treading on your feet. but we are all Arsenal supporters in my family! Hah hah..! So I did go to Charlton about thirty years ago. And funny you say that because errr.. Bank Holiday Monday I went there again to watch the Arsenal Ladies play (oh yeah) and hasn't it altered in thirty years!?! It was wonderful! Sitting in chairs and under the doin's you know... so it was good!
What was it like when you went the first time?
Well of course we stood - you know - unless you could afford to pay a fee - you stood. I can vaguely remember wooden.. wooden forms and of course it was all open to the elements. But then any football ground was. It was only the last few years that they've had seats. You know... because Maggie Thatcher brought that in didn't she? Um... but it's good.. it's nice to have seats.
So you enjoyed it?
Yeah! It was good. Especially Arsenal Ladies won 2-0.
(Laughs)
I don't suppose you remember the result of the game you saw do you - the one thirty years ago?
No.. no.. sorry!
Didn't stick in your mind?
No..
Wasn't a very good game then??
No.. not at Charlton.. (laughs)
So, how about the boys? What sort of sport were they in to?
They're in to everything really my boys. Of course Keith.. Keith the youngest one in America is in to everything. Baseball.. you name it, they do it! But you want to see the way they play soccer over there! (laughs) My grandson.. they've only got one son.. and of course he goes to all that... when I was over there we went and watched this soccer game, I could not believe it! Of course we was looking at it with English eyes. I know it's a kid's team, but it's.. it's pitiful! But the baseball and all that is really good, I could get in to that. um.. my Colin.. they always played football even at work, you know when they were at work they had a team. Colin the eldest one he didn't like cricket. Keith quite liked cricket - swimming, diving.. things like that, what was going which was free they probably done. I can remember the times when they came home after football.... of course no washing machine.. you'd have a bucket there to put all the mud things in until the next morning, you know!
So how long did it take you before you really settled in in the Greenwich area?
It took me about nine months because it was really quite different. I lived.. although I lived in Croydon, I lived about six miles out of Croydon at New Addington - I don't know if you know it, which was then a new estate being built. Before then it had been woods and farmland and I moved to Addington about.. when Colin was aged about 18 months, so that's about 49 years ago. They gave.. the Council gave us a house at Addington which was a new estate.. and I had a big front garden and I had a huge back garden, because in those days they could afford to give you the ground. So when I came up here.. and my kitchen is in the front. and I suppose I've got from my window to a little wall - I've got that much - all of a sudden there were people passing in my kitchen, you know.. umm.. it wasn't until.. (do you want a cup of coffee?).. later on, later on.. (yeah.. later on) it wasn't until we done our own decorating indoors and I had stamped my own territory that then I could settle down....
What were the forms of transport like?
Here? (yeah) The buses were very good... very good and I think that was one of the joys of living up here because at Addington you could only one bus down in to Croydon. But coming up here - I could get a bus in to Peckham, one in to Lewisham, one in to Woolwich, one to Blackheath, one to Eltham - which *still* I love. So that was one of the joys was being able to go to different shopping places.
How about the trains? Did you ever use trains?
Not a lot... because erm, .. I don't know why. I do *now*... because I've got a bus pass and I can go on there free! (laughs) Tomorrow I'm going to Erith to see my granddaughter and I shall use the train to go there.
So you didn't have a car then?
No.. actually we had a little... not a moped. What were they.. It was a scooter.. what were they called? Oh, for goodness sake! Anyway it was a little moped and my husband and I used to run around on that. Before when the boys were small we had a motorbike and sidecar which was joyful.. it was wonderful! But I don't like cars so.. I like bikes and things.
Were you married when you actually arrived in Greenwich...
Yes..
..or did you get married after?
No.. no.. I've been married.. *would* have been married 52 years this years. So I had my Golden Wedding just before my husband died, which was nice. So yes, I'd been married about.. Colin.. Colin was 18... 16.. about 18 years I'd been married before we moved up here.
So are there any people that really stick out in your mind..
Here?
..from, yeah, the Greenwich area? Not so much now, but before, maybe that have passed on or that you've lost contact with?
Well - of course I had a friend.. I had very good friend living up here who sort of got the house for us.. didn't *get* the house.. but we had like a three-way exchange through the Council. Somebody.. the lady whose house I've got here living in now, she wanted to go to Downham.. the people at Downham wanted to go to Addington, we wanted to go to Greenwich, so we had a three-way exchange. And of course, my friend, we worked together when we were fourteen, so we are still friends. Um.. so of course she stands out in my mind. And.. for thirty years I had a very good neighbour next door to me where I live now... she's now moved down to Stamford to live near her daughter. They are the people who really really helped us to settle down.
What about any sort of events that have happened like street parties or anything like that?
Yes.. we had them... now what was that for? I can't remember.. we had.. they do.. they do put street parties on round where we were.. and I can't remember what it was for.. because V.E. Day's been and gone..
Wern't the World Cup was it.. when we won it?
(laughs) Should have been shouldn't it?! Erm.. I can't really remember, but yes they do put a few street parties on.. yeah!
Not too much drinking then?
I don't think there's a lot of drinking goes on. Not outside anyway.
Um.. is there anything else that you just want to mention?
Umm.. I don't think so. You've covered most of it. I hope this is handy for you.. but if anybody here.. It's not all about the Peninsula. It's about life as we have lived it probably. I mean I wasn't up here in the Blitz. I'm sure it was quite bad up here in the Blitz. Perhaps you need to talk to people who've lived up here all their lives? I mean if you feel.. we have.. I don't run it, but I'm sort of the leader of the 'gang' - umm.. on a Monday afternoon we have a Ladies Fellowship, all old people from the Church and one or two... Now next week we are going on an outing, so.. but if in a few weeks you want to come and listen to any of their... because some of them have lived up here all their lives. It's entirely up to you.. you are very welcome.
If you wouldn't mind?
That would be lovely.
And what day did you say it was?
We.. we meet here. Sometimes we're in the Church, sometimes we go up and have a cup of tea. That's a Monday from two till quarter past three. If you want to ring me.. I'll give you a.. next Monday we're out.. not sure if the Monday after is it Whitsun, the Monday after?
No - it's the week after.
The week after.. well then on the 24th I've got the gentleman from the Peninsula coming. Now if you want to come instead of him, that's up to you. What was his name?
Rib?
Probably. So if you want to get with him, and instead of him coming you come.. or if you come with him. The ladies will be happy to see you. I'm sure you'll evoke a lot more memories than I can give you, because we've got one lady - she's not well at the moment - she's ninety four - lived here all her life. I've got another one that I've just seen in the hospital.. she's eighty.. she's lived here all her life. So a lot of them might be able to help you more. OK? Now you can either give me a ring - you've got my number somehere. Give me a ring and let me know if you'll be here on the 24th, or if it'll just be that man, or if you want to make an extra time some other time.
OK?
Yup!