Interview with Pat Ball
- Reference Number: DW-252/2/4
- Date: 13 Aug 2019
- Level: Item
- Extent: 1 fil e(437631 KB)
- Format: WAV Audio file
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Description: INTERVIEWEE: Patricia Ball
Born: 1956
Interviewer: Karen
Date of interview: 13th August 2019
Born in Walsall, has always lived in the area, although moved frequently. She was the eldest of three children. Mother worked in leather factory; Father had several jobs ranging from butcher to furniture maker ? 19 in total.
[00:48] Details of childhood. Early years spent living in a variety of lodgings and staying with different relatives. Attended eight different schools.
[04:45]In 2000 she returned to the schools that were still open and spoke to some of the staff and the children ? one of the teachers she remembers is still in post. She has all her school reports.
[07:20] Left school at 15 ? went straight into working at Charles Mountford as a bridle hand-stitcher (Mum sewed purses and wallets, Grandmother had sewed leather footballs).
[11:18] Met husband (Andrew Ball) he was a leather preparer at the same factory. Togther they worked on hand-made bridles to send to Princess Anne when she married Cpt Mark Phillips.
[12:44] Her husband was known as ?Bollock? due to his name being Andy Ball.
[15:08] Memories of The Good Old Days shows.
[19:05] Recalls going to see Black Country Night Out shows with Dougie Parker, Tommy Mundon, Dolly Allen (enjoyed her more than Lizzie Wiggins). Thinks humour was different then, probably a bit more offensive ? mother-in-law jokes; wife jokes; always the man taking the mickey. Doesn?t think it happens now.
[22:40] Recalls seeing local music and comedy group Light Fantastic several times at pub in Beechdale ?Three Men in a Boat.?
[23:00] Used to live about 30 doors away from Noddy Holder of Slade. On nodding terms with the family. When they reached top of the charts she went round to ask for his autograph and Noddy invited her in to look at his Tarantula, which he kept in a shoebox on the sideboard.
[25:05] Brendan Hawthorne, local poet.
[28:37] Remembers some of the venues and local comedians ? (only names, no details)
[30:00] ? [38:53] Shows Karen old albums and programmes of performers and tells a story about Jonny Carole who told her a joke. - Access Status: Open
- Contact: Wolverhampton Archives, Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies