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THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTRY LIFE SERIES includes old people recalling their lives on the Cotswold hills in Gloucestershire. Mostly in the various Gloucestershire dialects , they are a fascinating insight into the way of life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and are full of humour and aspects of social history. The series also includes recordings of Cotswold church bells, steam trains, plainchant, wildlife and the ways of the Forest Of Dean as well as the poetry of Cotswold poet Frank Mansell. The series is produced by Gef Lucena for Saydisc Records and the full details and purchasing details can be found on www.saydisc.com
Three very different terrains are covered in this recording of voices and memories of the past:
The high and sometimes bleak Cotswolds leave an impression-traditionally at least-of sheep and yellow stone-built houses and walls; the lower, lusher Severn vale with drainage ditches and mainly brick-built houses and always dominated by the river; and the partly wooded Forest of Dean with solid grey stone cottages and more sheep, but this time in a woodland setting and often found wandering about road and village. All these areas have their own traditions, dialects and ways of life but are in danger of being melded into a uniform modernity.
1 Fred Smith of Daglingworth (Recorded c.1968, born 1882)
One of the chief distinguishing features of Cotswold (yes, it should really be a singular) is its yellow limestone. Traditionally used for house walls and roof tiles it abounds too in field walls built without any mortar.
2 Fred Archer of Ashton-under-Hill (Recorded 1965)
Fred Archer features on several of the recordings in this series and has a wide knowledge of the history of farming and country life below Bredon Hill where he, and his father before him, farmed. Here he remembers the apple trees that are fast disappearing.
3 Mollie Harris of Eynsham, Oxfordshire (Recorded 1960s)
Mollie Harris had many stories to tell of her rural upbringing and was immortalised for many years in “The Archers” radio series as the village shopkeeper. Here she recalls amusing tales about sheep ‘dagging’ (clipping the nasty, smelly bits off sheep prior to shearing) and the farm worker known as Arry Ossfoot.
4 Charlie Whitfield of Walham near Gloucester (Recorded c.1962)
Life by the Severn is very different to that on the high wold and one person who was fully conversant with its changing moods and opportunities was Charlie Whitfield. His ability to call birds out of the air and his discovery of the rare marsh warbler brought his skills and powers of observation to the notice of Dr. Ludwig Koch and assisted this renowned sound recordist of bird life in his recordings. On this recording Mr Whitfield tells of his experiences in eel and elver fishing and describes the traditional methods employed.
5 William Jones of the Forest of Dean (Recorded 1960s)
The Forest of Dean is separated from the rest of Gloucestershire by the river Severn. Forest folk are frequently thought of as clannish, rather wary of strangers and very independent. One of the legendary characters of this area is ‘Old Joulter’. Did he really exist? William Jones claims to have known him well and recalls a little about his exploits.
6 Amy Cooke of Coombe, Wotton-under-Edge (Recorded 1965)
Amy has featured in this series before and has become a firm favourite. Here she tells of eating snails, following the hounds and much more besides-adding a few of her dulcet tones for good measure.
7 George King of Lechlade (Recorded c.1960) describes Cirencester Mop fair and the hiring of farm workers. He graphically describes the moving procedure on Old Michaelmas Day to the new farm; a somewhat unhappy occasion in bad weather with all the family’s possessions and the family itself loaded onto an open cart.
8 Jack Fisher of Winchcombe (aged 96 when recorded in 1972)
This fine old character describes his various jobs and, in particular, his work as a postman. Later in life he carried out his duties on horseback, finishing his round just in time to attend hunt meets-still in his uniform. When recorded he had just finished some hedge laying at the age of 96.
9 Mrs Vaughan of Fawley near Ross-on-Wye (Recorded 1962)
Whilst recording steam train sounds on the Gloucester to Hereford Railway Peter Duddridge by chance met this fine old lady. So, although we step into Herefordshire for the final contribution, it is a fully justified trespass. Mrs Vaughan had her own well worked out philosophy and was still content with oil lamps and candles. She talks of the temporary nature of modern life and, in particular, entertainment. “Radio”, she says, “is just a tenancy, God gave the music, didn’t he?”. So Mrs Vaughan was quite happy to entertain herself on the melodeon which she could play “by note”.
GEF LUCENA Series Producer
31 янв 2024
