Interview with Tony Wilson
“The young males went in, the young males went in the mornings, and the, and the ladies went in the afternoons, and all that, but we were told ... we only did two hours in the morning, and we were told to leave the Seven Dials area by one o’ clock: if you don’t, you’ll get, you’re in serious trouble.Well, they didn’t want us to mix with the girls in those days: they were very, very strict in those days. They wouldn’t let disabled people mix together, the opposite sex mix together…You see: that’s why I say, the boys went in the mornin’, to this, ‘cause it was a, it wasn’t a school, it was a, like a, like a day centre, which they didn’t even call it ‘day centres’ in those days: they called it ... I forget what they called them in those days; we used to call it ‘mornin’ classes’ and ‘afternoon class, classrooms’, you know, where we used to make things, and all that, and do, and all that, and do weavin’, and do embroidery work, and do drawin’ and all that, whatever they think disabled people was fit to do…”
Born 14 June 1934, London
Attended Preston Infants School and Hollingdean special school, Brighton
Tape 1 side 1
Born 14 June 1934 at 1 Northumberland St. Marylebone London. Can't remember mother Grace Ellen Wilson, a chemist's assistant from Ickenham. Thought his birthday was 13 June all of his life. Christened Anthony Basil Wilson. Grew up in a Shaftesbury Society hospital near Bournemouth called Victoria House. Memories of the home. When to foster home in Brighton with a Mrs Wood when he was seven. Went to Preston Infants School in North Road in Brighton. Lost quite a bit of schooling. Didn't see the sea until after the war in 1945 when he was 11. Steam trains at Preston Park station. At 14 fostered by Mrs White at 7 St Martin's Place off the Lewes Road. Went to Hollingdean special school opposite Bear Road. Description of school, pupils and curriculum, which included shoe mending.
Tape 1 side 2
Guardianship Society on the Old Shoreham Road - segregation of sexes. Weaving, embroidery, drawing. Outings with Brighton Spastics Society. Going to Hamilton House in Wilbury Avenue Hove in January 1968. Making calendars and toys for sale at the fair at the Corn Exchange. Wanted to do gardening or working with animals but was told he couldn't. Tony's disappointment. At the age of 24 went to Mrs White and then Mrs Allen. Holidays in Eastbourne, Westcliff, Clacton, Bognor Regis.
Tape 2 side 1
Secondary school near Saunders Park. Allotment in playground. Steam trains at Preston Park. Coach trips. Peter Jones a friend and chef at Sussex County hospital. Mrs Spencer foster mother. Becoming independent at the age of 51 with Pat Knight at York Road. Moved to Waldron Avenue, Coldean. Tried to trace relatives through the Salvation Army 12 years ago. 'You haven't got anybody.' Two operations at the age of nine during the Second World War at a hospital in Stanmore. Dr Chumley at Sussex Street clinic.
Tape 2 side 2
November 1944 to March 1945 stay in hospital. Calipers. Physiotherapy. Wearing splints in bed. Wartime sirens at night - wasn't taken out of bed. Radio: Worker's Playtime, Music Night at the Savoy. Going to London on Armistice Day. Visiting Holloway Hospital.
Tape 3 side 1
Victoria House. One shilling a week pocket money until the 1950s, rising to 10 pounds a week in the late 1980s. January 1968 going to Hamilton House. Preston Manor School and to the age of 11 and special school in Hollingdean Road from 11 to 16. Three or four years at the Guardianship Society -- told not to mix with girls. Activities at Hamilton House: stuffing toys, embroidery work, making calendars out of cigarette packets: Brighton and Hove Spastics Society outings. Hamilton House sales of work at the Brighton Corn Exchange. Pottery and sculpture. Gardening at Hamilton House. Holidays to Holland, Blackpool, Isle of Wight and Cornwall. Spending Christmas in a hotel. Christmases as a child. Radio and television. Street party in Herbert Road in 1953.
Tape 3 side 2
First visit to the seafront in 1946. Going to the Duke of York cinema for 9d to see Gone with the Wind. Moved to St Martin's Place. The Spastics Society trip to Windsor. Moved to Peacehaven. Learning independent living skills with Pat Knight. Tony discovered that he had savings.
Tape 4 side 1
Staying at Stanmore Hospital at the age of nine from November 1944 to February 1945. Mixing with war casualties in the hospital swimming pool. No cards or presents for birthdays. The Spastics Society holidays at Westcliff and Clacton on Sea. Bob Monkhouse. Meeting a girlfriend Wendy every September for three or four years on holiday.
Tape 4 side 2
Feelings about Wendy's death. Christmas at Clacton. The effect of ageing - the recent fall in the street. Cost of living and spending. Disability Allowance. Typical day. Day centre routine. Bluebell Railway.
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