June covers the topic of her schooldays and working life at Farmor’s School. At her entertaining and informative talk to the Fairford History Society on September 25th, 2005 June describes what Fairford was like during the war. The topics of evacuees, communications, air raids, St Mary’s Church windows, rationing, pests, savings, fund raising, fire fighting, the Home Guard, the railway, RAF Fairford and the secret services were all covered.
Liz and Phil talks about their early life and childhood (Phil used to live in the George Hotel and Liz at Waiten Hill Farm), the war years and their experiences in the shop in the High St for 20 years.
Peter talks about the school and life as a boy during the war, Fairford Carnival and shops in the town.
Tony Rogers talks about his experiences, how he got to England from Poland which includes his terrible experiences in Russia. He trained as a pilot, completed many operations and became an instructor, and flew many types of aircraft. When the war finished he stayed in England and in 1947 joined the RAF. He recounts his post war flying experiences in the Far East, his work at Lucas Aerospace, as liaison officer in Birmingham. In June 1993 he retired to Fairford.
Geoff with his wife Mary came from London to work in Fairford as a youth worker. They talk about their experiences living in the Youth Warden flat in the Community Centre and all the activities for the young people in Fairford in the 70s-80s and what Fairford was like in those days.
Gillian moved to Fairford in 1967, Harry taught at Farmor’s School, they first lived in Victory Villas, Hatherop Rd. She talks about what it was like living with a young family in the 1960s and 1970s.
Jos Barker talks about shops and people in Fairford in the years 1918-26.
Betty has lived in Fairford all her life. She covers the topics of Fairford Primary School, Farmor’s School, working on the railway 1942-1949 and at the Primary School for 34 years. Fairford Carnival and shops are also covered.
Audrey talks about her life at the Fairford Park estate, the carnival and characters in Fairford. Jean talks about the schools and life during the war and the railway. Kathleen and Liz Morecambe talk about Mr Dipper at the Primary School. Peter talks about the school and life as a boy during the war, Fairford Carnival and shops in the town.
James Turtle from the Gloucestershire Record Office talks about medicine in Gloucestershire from 1540-1900 covering disease, especially the plague and smallpox and the development of the medical profession with references to Fairford.
Albert, who has lived in the area all his life, talks about his working life from Godwin Pumps via RAF Fairford, Wootten Bassett, Fairford Cottage Hospital and finally for the council, work he was still doing at the age of 80.
David Pitts lived in Cowley Court Cottages, Coronation St until he was 17 and went to work on the railway. He talks about what life in Fairford was like in the second half of the 20th century.
This talk concentrated on the history of stained glass, methods of manufacture, techniques of staining and how the windows came in to existence in the Church and the subsequent restoration techniques.
This programme is about the effect of the reduction in personnel at RAF Fairford in 1990 on the town as 1200 staff and families had to reduce to a few dozen. Almost 200 civilian jobs were lost. The programme also covered the effect on businesses in the town (Leo D’Elia) and on the people who might lose their jobs and have to work away from the town.
Down Your Way visits the Coln Valley, with Brian Johnston. The producer was Anthony Smith who went to Farmor’s School. Interviews were conducted with June Lewis (teacher at Farmor’s School), Sid Jacques (verger), Geoff Payne (rushweaving), Keith Lindley (Dutchford computers), Roger Randall (Godwin Pumps) and Douglas Peters (manager of Bibury Trout farm).
