Marjory Robinson's Story
was born in 1959 in Wakefield. My parents were living in York. My mother’s grandfather was The Freeman of York. He used to have his own Lendal boat yard. Her father and his brother were in the army, in World War I, Rifle rangers. They both survived. My mum’s father was discharged due to medical issues. My mum’s brother left because he was shell shocked.
My dad was in World War II in the Pioneer Corp. He was discharged due to medical issues and then became a farm labourer. He was a road sweeper in Tadcaster for many years working for the Tadcaster Council.
My dad was in World War II in the Pioneer Corp. He was discharged due to medical issues and then became a farm labourer. He was a road sweeper in Tadcaster for many years working for the Tadcaster Council.
We moved to Moresdale Lane, Seacroft in Leeds in 1968. I now live on Inglewood Drive.
I went to Cadle Square Primary School which is near Hunslet when I was 8 and then when I was 12 I went to Roundhay Lodge on Harewood Lane until I was 16. I hated school! I didn’t enjoy any of the lessons. I went straight into a job in a training centre with Remploy. Afterwards I worked at Treats, packing ice-cream which is now closed down. I enjoyed working there as I got to take ice creams home with me. I used to sell them to the next door neighbour’s little girl. They just made ice creams and lollies.
My earliest memories of living in Seacroft were that the neighbours were really nice. You could leave your door open but you can’t do it nowadays as there is a bit of vandalism. When I was younger there was no talk of drug dealers and burglaries in the area. When I was younger the police used to walk around on the street.
Parents used to belt their children for doing wrong but now parents are not allowed to touch their children and the teachers are not allowed to cane them like they used to. When I used to play out with my friends we used to play Tig and you had to stand like a statue until someone went under your arms to set you free. I used to love playing football, tackling the lads and I used to win a lot. I was fit once. We used to play in the middle of the road as there wasn’t really any traffic or learner drivers. I wasn’t allowed to go too far away from home.
I have a sister and a brother. I don’t know where my brother is. My brother is older than me, he was married so we never played together.
I earned £35 a week, I didn’t pay any tax or insurance. When I was 18 I got another job earning £39 and had to pay tax and insurance packing fruit and veg at Miss Whites down on Pontefract Lane and then I went to Foodall which is at the top of Osmondthorpe Lane packing Christmas outfits and earned £50 a week. I never had a problem with getting a job like you do nowadays. I spent some of my money on sweets and magazines which I still love! I slung most of it in the bank! I never fancied going to the pub, I used to stay in and watch tv. A lot of people think I’m weird because I don’t go to night clubs and bingo as it doesn’t interest me. I used to go to the feast at the Village Hall. I loved the Speedway and Merry go round and those swings and swing boats. I didn’t go watch the cricket matches. The Gala used to be really nice, there was gala king and queens, May Pole dancers, Morris dancers, Irish dancers and Seacroft competitions. I would love those times to come back again. I remember one particular year the Gala was cancelled because of the rain and the Green became water logged.
I never attended church. I go to St Richards when they have a BBQ and to the cafe on a Tuesday. I liked the old Seacroft Centre, although it did have a leaky roof! I loved the cheap pet shop and there were loads of cafes. I used to love visiting them all. I liked the fruit and veg stalls and there was a sandwich shop. I remember Skyliners, I used to go there every Saturday for my lunch. I sat in the restaurant and had fish and chips with curry and bread. It was cheap. Now it costs you almost a tenner for that. I think Subway and all the other shops at Tesco are rubbish. Its all open space. I liked the bus as it was over the road. Not how it is now. All the different buses at the station now confuse me. I think the station could be improved by putting on extra buses that are more convenient.
I liked the old buildings with the flat roofs which have all been knocked down. I don’t like the new buildings that are on South Parkway now. I don’t like change. If I could improve the centre I would make it disabled friendly with more cafes. The cafes are not suitable for wheelchairs. Tescos needs more disabled toilets. As I got older around 1980 I found it difficult to get a job. A lot of places were closed down and people were made redundant. I was 21 when I stopped working. I have arthritis in my legs and suffer when it’s cold and damp. I find it difficult to get on the buses. They sometimes lower the ramp for me but other times they don’t. The bus driver doesn’t wait for you to sit down before they set off! Transport could be made better.
Food was cheaper when I was younger but now it’s expensive. The type of food has changed now, there is a lot of foreign food nowadays which I don’t like. I only like good old English food!
I am allergic to onions and nuts. I cook for myself. My favourite meal is jacket potatoes and a medium rare steak
I have a 12 year old dog. I got her when she was six weeks old. Her name is Angel. She is going to the Kennels soon because I’m going to Skegness with my sister and her friend for a week. She’s having all her coat shaved off while she is in there. We are getting there at lunch time. We are stopping in a cottage and visiting Mablethorpe and Aders farm to feed the goats and stroke the horses.
When I was younger, me and my family went to The Blue Dolphin which was a caravan holiday. We also went to Primrose Valley.
My hobbies are researching my family tree and writing letters. I have over 20 pen pals and it’s costing me a fortune in stamps. One of my pen pals is a guy who lives in America and the others are in England. He is in prison. He is a murderer. It was self defence, they broke into his house, threatened to kill him so he acted out. I have been writing to him for the last five years and our anniversary is coming up. I started off with two pen pals and one of them put my name forward to another pen pal and I started writing to her and then she got me in touch with another pen pal and so forth.
I collect postcards, pens, key rings and magnets. Everywhere I go I must get a pen! I treat myself to one whenever I go out anywhere for the day. My favourite fridge magnets are the ones with the nice sceneries.
It’s interesting to see the amount of detail given on Death Certificates in the 1980s! You almost feel as though you were there. We can compare this Death Certificate with Marjory’s mother’s Death Certificate from 2000 which gives much less detail.