Oral history recording of Sainsbury's former staff (1920s-1990s) on 23 Mar 1992

Group oral history interview of former Sainsbury's staff, with student interviewers from South Bank University, also an archivist from Sainsbury's is present. Topics include work at Sainsbury's, childhood memories, the Second World War.

Interviewees:
Mr W. McQuillan: started 1939 in poultry department as ticket writer. Moved onto egg department, then kitchens. Assistant to Factory Manager. Administration Officer in Training Department. Retired 1983.
Mr Ridgway: started in 1923 in Cricklewood, Pinner Road, Kenton. Egg boy in 1924 in bad winter. c.1925 served on meat counter in Pinner Road. Manager c.1939. Post 1945 Manager Northwood Hills, moved to Kenton. Retired 1967.
Jean Ridgway: started in office at Wembley in 1932. Married 1939.
Josie Rule: started 1964 at Norwich House in Streatham. Moved to Head Office, Directors' Branch Committee. Then in Customer Relations. At retirement 1981 was Clerical Supervisor.
Harry Coomber: driver from Charlton Depot, started May 1961 and retired 1992.

Summary of recordings:
85A: Mr McQuillan started 1939 in poultry department as ticket writer. Moved onto egg department, then kitchens. Assistant to Factory Manager. Administration Officer in Training Department. Retired 1983. Mr Ridgway started in 1923 in Cricklewood, Pinner Road, Kenton. Egg boy in 1924 in bad winter. c.1925 served on meat counter in Pinner Road. Manager c.1939. Post 1945 Manager Northwood Hills, moved to Kenton. Retired 1967. Jean Ridgway started in office at Wembley in 1932. Married 1939. Josie Rule started 1964 at Norwich House in Streatham. Moved to Head Office, Directors' Branch Committee. Company went public reorganisation and worked in Customer Relations. At retirement 1981 was Clerical Supervisor. Harry Coomber driver from Charlton, started May 1961and retired 1992. Childhood memories: McQuillan 70 years old; earliest memory of walking in tears with his mother to school. Milk. Attended Chaucer School. Lived in Bermondsey. Mother didn't think of herself as working-class. Not allowed to play with other children in street. Footballer at school. Story of not being able to afford football boots with mother c. 1934. [12.07] Mr Ridgway: 1917 newspaper boys shouted headlines. Lived near Hyde Park. Moved to Richmond. 1914 Rationing poor. Soup kitchens. 1923 lived in at Sainsbury's with 14 other boys. Under 18 year olds had to be in by 9 o'clock. Paid 25 shillings a week, 15 shillings board and lodgings. Sent mother half a crown a week. Hired bike. Paid for aprons to be laundered. Pinner Road shop 1925- smoking coupons bought a gramophone. Met wife. Jean Ridgway: started school in 1920 age 5. Poetry. mother had 4 children. Mondays wash day. Wembley. Alberton School. Passed 11 plus and went to Wembley County School. Josie Rule: black lead grate. Born in Lancashire. Mill girls and clogs. Gas lighter. "Knocker-upper". Harry Coomber. George Ridgway: Labour Exchange Butlers Wharf crane driver age 14. Peek Freans 19 shillings a week.

85B Childhood experiences. Fascism. League of Nations at school. Age 13/14 not allowed to read newspapers. WAAF Second World War. Jean Ridgway: stewing steak and fish shop. Childhood games. George Ridgway: First World War. Josie Rule: post 1945 rationing cheese and fruit. George Ridgway: Kenton store Dutch cheeses. Impact of Second World War on Sainsbury's meat sales. Female manageress. One male allowed in each branch during Second World War. Men returning to work. Dismissed wives whose husband worked at branch. Jean Ridgway sacked. Got job at Chartered Accountants in Denham. [14.50] McQuillan: Sainsbury's had poor reputation as employers pre 1939. Personnel and overtime problems. George Ridgway: Lipton's advertised for Sainsbury's men preferred. Josie: left WAAF 1945, next job Sainsbury's 1961.

86A Clothing coupons. George Ridgway: Introduction of self service stores. Uniform. 1930 13 weeks off ill, full pay. Board and lodgings. McQuillan: working in factory, sausages packed in baskets. Self-service sausages needed to be wrapped. Sainsbury training scheme. Perception of the family. Working rapport with Mr Alan. Goldup. McQuillan: Bermondsey during the Blitz. Harry: Moved to Rotherhithe. Underground shelters. Air raid. Zeppelins. Poverty of families. George Ridgway father Shirt supplier Regent Street.

86B Josie: husband didn't want her to work. Working women. Drivers' Bonus Wages, start of motorway travel, compensatory pay, limited hours. Supervisor didn't allow electronic adding machines. Moved to Stamford House. Jean Ridgway: husband earned £4.Stayed at home until children went to university. Went back to college to supplement children at university. 3 children worked at Sainsbury's. Wages. Rented accommodation when married. Council.