Interview with Pauline Johnson

 

Born 29 September 1949

 

Educated Victoria Physically Handicapped School, Small Heath

 

Pauline Irene Johnson was born on 29 September 1949 in Handsworth. Pauline’s parents were married on 2 October 1948, and lived (until 1956) with Pauline’s paternal grandfather, Henry Johnson, at Willey Road, Aston. Family then moved to 151 Grange Road, Small Heath, Birmingham. Pauline’s father Harry worked for Ansell's Brewery. “Very difficult” forceps delivery of Pauline, who was not expected to live. Dr Rowner view of Pauline’s screaming. Hospital diagnosed meningitis, then cerebral palsy. Mother’s sensible and caring approach. Pauline was fitted with a calliper from age of three until 14. Coronation Day 1953. Dressing up. Pauline’s mother was a keen photographer. Aged 6, Pauline went to a school for disabled children, including children with cerebral palsy and spina bifida. Mother’s work in show business. Edmundo Ross and Victor Sylvester. Childhood songs. Doing shows at school. Parents’ over-protectiveness. Mother had strokes. Pauline was forced to leave home in her forties.

 

In 1990, Pauline went to live at Prospect Hall in Bristol Road in Selly Oak. It was run by Social Services for rehabilitation and to learn skills of independent living. Christmas 1990. Learning budgeting. Prospect Hall was closed down to save costs. Pauline went to the Victoria Physically Handicapped School in Little Green Lane in Small Heath. Description of headmaster Mr Perrett. Harvest Festival at school. Pauline’s mother was born in Birmingham in April 1926. Pauline’s maternal grandmother was Christine Cecilia Shoot. Pauline’s maternal great grandfather was a tax collector of German origin. Pauline grandmother had 10 pregnancies, with 8 children surviving. Mother went into the ATS [Auxiliary Transport Service]. She won a talent competition at 16 and became a dance band singer with Johnny Fairweather and his Orchestra, a Birmingham-based dance band. Dorothy Lamour and Carmen Miranda. Pauline learning to dance Hawaiian and the Charleston. In early 1972, a fundraising concert for the Wednesday Night Club of the Midlands Spastics Association. Attitude of Pauline’s father.

 

 

Harry Johnson was Pauline’s father. The Nelson pub, Grange Road, Small Heath. Parental rows over money. Pauline’s father was born in 1922. His family tree. Harry did Army service in Burma. Pauline’s mother, Eileen, was in lodgings with Rennie Peplow. How Pauline’s parents met. Married on October 1948. Pauline was born in September 1949. Pauline’s father got a job with Ansells Brewery. Description of 151 Grange Road, Small Heath, Birmingham. ‘The Grange’ cinema in Grange Road and ‘The Kingston’ on Kingston Road. Child care arrangements while mother was away working in shows.

 

Pauline was variety artist on the amateur circuit. Pauline joined Midlands Spastics Association [now called ‘Cerebral Palsy Midlands] in 1965-6. Pauline left school in 1965 and joined the ‘MSA Wednesday Night Club’. Peter and Mavis Barrett’s retirement party. Pauline’s mother was a judge for the Variety Club. Disabled people and the theatre. Visits to hospitals. Doctor’s attitudes. Surgical boots. Attitudes to cerebral palsy. Charity fundraising. Media attitudes to disabled people. 900A Coventry Road. Raymond Overton, Midlands Spastics Association. Children’s jealousy of Pauline because of her mother’s theatrical involvement. Friends at school.

 

Pauline played with dolls, teddies and an easel made by Triang. Reading. First watch at the age of 11. Memories of Victoria School for the Physically Handicapped. Mr Perrett, headmaster. Harvest Festival. Special bus run by West Midlands Travel. Rounders and ball games. Dissecting a frog in school. Pauline was nicknamed “Johnson’s Wax Polish.” School trips to the pantomime. Christmas parties. Visit to Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Aunt Vicky, her maternal aunt, lived in Essex. When Victoria School was due to be demolished, Pauline was transferred to a school in Sheldon, from 13 until 16. There were three schools: one for blind children; one for deaf children; and one for physically disabled children. Pauline’s father was made redundant from brewery in 1966, then he worked for the Post Office. No exams at the school. Pauline left at Easter 1965. Coach trips to Rhyl, Wales, London, Windsor Castle. Pauline went to Crich Tramway Village in Derbyshire. Birmingham District Varieties Association. Pauline went on an assessment course for two weeks.

 

Pauline attended a two-week assessment course in 1964 and was judged “unable to work” and “unemployable”. For 25 years, she became an entertainer of other people with cerebral palsy. Pauline retired from entertaining, after appearing as the Snow Queen at the Aldridge Little Theatre in 1990. Moving to Prospect Hall, where she was taught how to live independently. Friend Susie Bucknall. Pauline’s first boyfriend was Geoffrey Britain. Relationship with an older man, Dennis, in 1968. ‘Outsiders Club’, a club for disabled people. Other boyfriends. ‘Lonely Heart’ ads. In August 1996 Pauline met Tony in the Church in the Bullring in Birmingham, the start of 18-month relationship.  

 

Pauline’s relationship with George. They have been together since 1993.

 

Coach trips, including visits to Derby and Stratford, with her mother. Week's holiday in Lincolnshire at home of Mr and Mrs Cox in summer of 1961. The Coxs bred poodles. Travelling on steam trains. Pauline’s dogs Bob and Pepe. Pauline has been living independently since she was 41. Problems recruiting staff. After her mother had a second stroke, Pauline remembers her father telling the senior welfare officer at Cerebral Palsy Midlands, Mrs Barton-Brand that Pauline would have to go into a home because she couldn’t make a cup of tea. View of care component of Disability Living Allowance. Her mother apologised to Pauline when she moved to Prospect Hall, believing that she had held Pauline back in a lot of things. Pauline couldn’t make a cup of tea because she wasn’t allowed to. Pauline’s message for today’s young parents with special needs children. Pauline says the greatest regret of her life is not leaving home when she was 20. Pauline’s hope for the future.

 

National Lottery. Writing her mother’s biography. Pauline remembers a day trip to Calais as a young woman. Her mother’s sense of humour. Pauline’s views about how young people with cerebral palsy should be supported.