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Recording, full transcript and summary of interview by Nigel Ingham, 27 October 2014, with the widow of a mesothelioma sufferer. Also, 5 family photographs and 2 legal statements for compensation claims.

In the interview, the interviewee talks about her husband, who developed mesothelioma. As well as describing the experience and impact of mesothelioma, she provides details about her own background, their married life, along with biographical information about her husband, including his work history and how he was exposed to asbestos.

Recording and transcript of Rebekah Russell in conversation with Margaret Cullen on 8 October 2014. Margaret Cullen was born 22/09/35 in Springburn and has lived all of her life in Wellfield Street, Springburn. She worked in a factory then moved on to work in Galls and worked full time throughout her life. Her husband worked for the co-op iron mongers and was made redundant for 2 years.

Time-coded summary:

[00:00:00] Introductions. Informs was born, brought up and married in Springburn and has lived there all of life.
[00:00:35] Tells that first job upon leaving school aged 15 was in Drapery Department of Cowlairs Co-operative in Springburn.
[00:01:05] Informs was married in 1956, with first child 1957, second 1958. Describes raising family with childcare support of mother. Husband not well paid so worked part-time first then full-time in various jobs: biscuit factory, Galls clothes shop, auxiliary in schools - during period 1960-1990.
[00:02:08] Describes routine of working in biscuit factory.
[00:02:34] Tells of working for Galls clothes shop first Dumbarton Road, then in Springburn where were in charge, then as school auxiliary until retirement.
[00:03:14] Comments on weekly wages received in Galls Clothing and as school auxiliary, and upon house move from Springburn to Barmulloch.
[00:03:49] Remarks that there was not much change in their own working condition in the Co-operative when factories in Springburn closed down, but visible change to area due to job losses.
[00:04:41] Informs husband lost job as Co-operative Ironmonger around this time, being unemployed for around 2 years before gaining re-employment as bus conductor and driver.
[00:05:19] Recounts financial impact of unemployment and reliance upon family allowance.
[00:05:41] Describes that during two years husband was unemployed she went out to work whilst he stayed home taking care of children and looking for work. Mentions childcare support of mother.
[00:06:02] Describes impact upon family of loss of husband’s income and sacrifices made as parents on behalf of the children.
[00:06:44] Informs that both she and husband in good health throughout this period. However, husband experienced health issues later due to smoking.
[00:07:01] Describes difficulties faced by husband in finding re-employment during this period.
[00:07:31] Tells that she regrets having to work when she became a mother due to time lost with their children.
[00:08:06] Explains worked full-time from financial necessity to raise family.
[00:08:30] Describes feeling regretful at time that were missing out on family’s childhood due to being a working mother.
[00:08:51] Explains reasons for working full-time when had children were purely financial.
[00:09:05] Describes necessity of returning to work after birth of each of her children.
[00:09:40] Comments that neither her nor husband’s attitudes to work changed with factory closures or loss of husband’s job.
[00:10:26] Explains that during period of factory closures there was not the community facilities in Springburn [such as the Alive & Kicking Project] which they have now, so opportunities to socialise were limited, with social focus, as working mum, on your children, friends and neighbours.
[00:11:40] Remarks that factory closures and job losses did not personally affect them other than at time of husband’s unemployment, as they were employed and had additional support of parents.
[00:12:24] Describes domestic privations of life in Springburn during period from 1960s on when did not have a bath or washing machine in house and women did washing in the 'steamies' [wash houses] on days off.

Susan McFarlane was born 05/10/36 and lived in Springburn in the Red Road Flats working part time in a pub as a cleaner then in the Stobhill Hospital where her job was secure at the time of deindustrialisation. none of her family members were affected by job loss. her husband was a joiner and due to being in contact with asbestos developed cancer.

Time-coded summary:

[00:00:00] Introductions.
[00:00:12] Tells that life during period 1960 – 1990 was good.
[00:00:28] Informs worked as cleaner in 2 public houses in Sprinburn, then for Foresthill and Stobhill hospitals.
[00:00:59] Explains there were no changes in working conditions when factories closed down due to working in NHS.
[00:01:09] Informs than no one in family lost job at this time.
[00:01:16] Talks about average day in family home in [Red Road] flats as working mother.
[00:01:36] Informs she had two children, a boy and a girl.
[00:01:42] Comments that there were no problems at this time with loss of wages.
[00:01:47] Tells of husband, who was a joiner, contracting cancer apparently due to asbestos exposure in Stobhill Hospital.
[00:02:09] Remarks that felt lucky in keeping job when other families around were losing theirs.
[00:02:21] Tells that neither she nor family members were made redundant at time.
[00:02:27] Explains went out to work from financial necessity but enjoyed work and company.
[00:02:45] Confirms motivations for work were principally financial.
[00:02:50] Informs that only worked when children went to Secondary school, working part-time as a cleaner in public house whilst children at school.
[00:03:21] Tells that just husband worked whilst she looked after their young children.
[00:03:29] Remarks there was no change in attitude to work after factory closures in Springburn.
[00:03:39] Confirms feeling of loss of community in Sprinburn during period of factory closures.
[00:03:56] Explains that due to working in NHS, local factory closures did not personally affect either her, husband or family directly.
[00:04:13] Describes enjoying social aspect of working in Stobhill hospital; describes changing daily life of living over 40 years in high-rise [Red Roads] flats; tells anecdote of managing shopping in lifts living 21 floors up; discusses social benefits of Springburn’s Alive & Kicking Project; tells story of daughter trapped overnight between floors in lift; discusses planned demolition by council of [Red Road flats] flats.
[00:07:36] Informs that she had her 2 children in 1962 and 1964.

Fabric design sample for the University of Strathclyde Golden Jubilee graduation cap; 2-page digital file summarising the design and manufacturing process.
The Golden Jubilee cap was a gift from Glasgow School of Art to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the University of Strathclyde’s Royal Charter of 1964. It was designed and manufactured by Christopher Barton and Jonathan Douglas, two final-year students in the School’s Department of Fashion and Textiles, and has been used in place of the more traditional, black cap at all University of Strathclyde graduation ceremonies since 2014. While the fabric of the finished cap is dark blue and black in colour, the sample is rendered in cream and black. The fabric was created using the Jacquard mechanism and woven from Lyocell, a type of rayon consisting of cellulose fibre made from dissolving wood pulp. This newly developed, natural yarn was chosen by the designers in honour of Strathclyde’s reputation for technological innovation, as well as to fit with the University’s sustainability policy, which seeks to minimise any detrimental effect upon the environment arising from the University’s activities. The design incorporates several key elements of the University’s coat of Arms: a cinquefoil, the heraldic emblem of the ancient kingdom of Strathclyde after which the University was named; an antique crown, again representing the kingdom of Strathclyde; a wave packet, signifying that Strathclyde is a technological institution; and two falcons, which were added to the coat of Arms in 1996 to mark two hundred years since the death of John Anderson.

Recording, full transcript and summary of interview by Nigel Ingham, 13 October 2014, with the widow of a mesothelioma sufferer. Also, 6 family photographs.

In the interview, the interviewee talks about her husband, who developed mesothelioma. She describes the experience and impact of mesothelioma. She also provides details about her own background, their younger days growing up in the Lancashire area, married life, and biographical information about her husband, including his work history and how he was exposed to asbestos.

Recording and transcript of Julie Shaw in conversation with a children's care worker and social worker, 21 February 2014. The interviewee worked as a children's care worker in the 1970s and, from 1975, as a social worker. The interviewee discusses changes to residential care, the Social Work (Scotland) Act, the environments they worked in, colleagues, and their thoughts how the sector could be improved.

Recording and transcript of Rebekah Russell in conversation with Catherine Rogers on 1 October 2014 at Springburn Alive and Kicking Project. Catherine Rogers was 81 years old at time of interview. She grew up in Balornock and lived in Germiston during her married life. She worked 3 days a week for Konnchater and Company on Howard Street, Glasgow.

Time-coded summary:

[00:00:00] Introductions.
[00:00:10] Tells of working life from period 1960-1990 when worked as a pieceworker in garment industry making ladies mantels, coats and trousers etc. Includes details of working hours and ease [in the 1960s] of finding employment.
[00:01:00] Informs not from Sprinburn but nearby Germiston, but husband from Springburn
[00:01:13] Comments that she found work as a machinist enjoyable and made own clothes, clothes for her children and would make alterations for neighbours for a modest fee.
[00:01:45] Tells of the impact of policies of Thatcherism and reduction to 3 day working week. And consequences of policy of “Compulsory Purchase” which apparently shut down the clothes factory.
[00:02:11] Tells of husband, who worked as a fitter, losing job first at Cowlairs in Springburn, briefly finding re-employment in Hunterston power plant before relocating to Grangemouth for 30 years until retirement.
[00:02:45] Remarks on how ability to earn additional income from sewing alleviated impact of husband’s loss of work.
[00:03:02] Tells of husband finding re-employment at Hunterston after initial job loss at Cowlairs. Comments on improved standard of living brought by two income household and benefit now of [widows] pension from BP.
[00:03:57] Tells of husband’s ill-health with terminal cancer and concerns over asbestosis.
[00:05:02] Describes mix of childcare provision between family support and nursery during time as working mother.
[00:05:48] Tells of enjoying working life and its social benefits.
[00:06:07] Informs that being a working mother and having an additional income was necessity for enjoying a decent quality of life.
[00:06:22] Briefly describes impact of factory closures and job losses on community of Springburn.
[00:06:44] Describes personal and social benefit to her of Springburn Alive & Kicking Project.
[00:07:07] Mentions rise of drug use in Springburn town centre after economic downturn. Comments that, although from Balornock and not Springburn, she enjoyed her working life in the town and that being a sewing machinist enabled her to work whilst having young children.

Recording and partial transcript of Rebekah Russell in conversation with Joan Pollock on 8 October 2014. Joan Pollock was born 13/08/36 in New Ross, county Wexworth, Southern Ireland. She and her husband moved to Glasgow in 1974. Her husband was from Belfast and had been in the Merchant Navy. Joan worked in Galbraith’s supermarket. Her interview comments principally on her experience as an Irish catholic immigrant to Glasgow.

Interview transcript is incomplete

Time-coded summary:

[00:00:00] Introductions.
[00:00:19] Tells she was born in New Ross, county Wexworth, Southern Ireland, moving to Glasgow in July 1974.
[00:00:33] Tells of moving to Glasgow rather than to London or Wales, with her husband who was in the Merchant Navy in Belfast, in 1974 to escape the Troubles.
[00:01:15] Tells of moving initially to rented flat in Broomhill, then to Whiteinch.
[00:02:06] Tells of arriving in Glasgow Fair Friday 1974, finding work in Galbraith’s supermarket. Mentions having previously trained as nurse in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, London.
[00:04:00] Informs that she was 22 years in the same job at Galbraith’s supermarket.
[00:05:46] Informs that she was a full-time worker for 20 years going part-time for 2 years prior to retirement.
[00:06:17] Tells that enjoyed most the social aspect of employment.
[00:06:57] Tells that husband trained as a welder for Harland and Wolff’s before subsequently finding re-employment in the City Chambers.
[00:07:46] Tells that after 8 years employment with Harland and Wolff’s the factory closed down and husband lost his job in 1982.
[00:08:00] Describes difficulties experienced by husband due to age and experience in finding re-employment after factory closure.
[00:08:25] Tells of taking additional part-time work as home help on day off to earn extra income after husband becoming unemployed.
[00:09:39] Describes husband’s health issues including becoming depressed and suffering a heart attack after losing job.
[00:09:59] Agrees with interviewer that women were considered mothers first and workers second but comments that did not herself have children.
[00:11:40] Tells of feeling lucky to be employed when local factories were closing down.
[00:12:27] Agrees there was a loss of sense of community in the area when the factories closed down.
[00:12:34] Expresses hope that Springburn is getting better now than it was. Remarks that it is unfair how people blame immigrants for social problems when they also have had hard lives, are escaping poverty and other issues. Describes ill-treatment of immigrant mother with children on public transport. Tells story of her and husband’s own ill-treatment as Irish immigrants.
[00:14:49] Tells that the incident which could have been taken to court happened in 1990.
[00:15:04] Tells of further sectarian incident of intimidation involving football fans.
[00:16:19] Concludes with anecdotes relating to friendships in the area.

Recording, full transcript and summary of interview by Nigel Ingham, 15 October 2014, with the widow of a mesothelioma sufferer. Also, 1 family photograph.

In the interview, the interviewee talks about her husband, who developed mesothelioma. She describes the experience and impact of mesothelioma. She also provides details about her own background, how she and her husband met and their married life in Manchester, along with biographical information about him, including his work history and how he was exposed to asbestos.

Recording and transcript of an interview with Sheila Patterson on 12th February 2014. Sheila Patterson worked as a house mother for 22 years starting in 1963. Sheila discusses the environment she worked in, her own upbringing at Quarriers, education, the introduction of Quarrier's own social workers, completing a course at Langside College and the working structure at the home.

Recording and transcript of Rebekah Russell in conversation with Betty Long on 1 October 2014 at Springburn Alive and Kicking Project. Betty Long lived in Anderston, Glasgow although she was closely associated with Springburn. She worked in Bilisland’s Bakery in Stobcross Street in Anderson where she reveals that she was one of the first women in Scotland to achieve equal pay with her male colleagues in the early 1970s. Later she worked as a knit machine and sewing machine demonstrator.

Time-coded summary

[00:00:00] Introduction.
[00.00.16] Provides brief summary of work and marital life changes during the period 1960-1990.
[00.01.26] Tells of various jobs held during this period from Bilisland’s bakery, school cleaner, knit and sewing machine demonstrator, retirement at 60 and since, then joining of Alive & Kicking. Also tells of remarriage [in 1976] and birth of another child in 1978.
[00.02.49] Describes changes in working conditions after local factory closures, including impact of closure of Caledonian Rail.
[00.03.47] Discusses impact on family of husband losing job in bakery during this period.
[00.04.48] Describes gender inequality and unfair working practices in the bakery during the 1970s and battle with both union and employer for equal rights and equal pay with male co-workers.
[00.06.10] Describes positive attitude to her employment despite long hours.
[00.06.42] Tells of financial hardship and necessity of securing employment to feed family. Talks about sense of loss of community upon closure of local factories and working men’s clubs.
[00.09.17] Describes how family coped upon husband being made redundant and becoming unemployed. Tells of being one of the first women to win equal rights and pay with male co-workers in bakery c.1972, by taking cause to a Union tribunal. Tells how term “men’s machines” was invented by male co-workers and was not a policy of the employer or union. Tells of pride in being a “women’s libber”.

Transcript is incomplete.

Recording and transcript of Rebekah Russell in conversation with Isabella Martin on 1 October 2014. Isabella Martin was born 12/08/37 and lived in Springburn. A pieceworker and sewing machinist in the garment trade for much of her working life, she retired before the closure of the Teachers Whiskey Plant.

Time-coded summary:

[00:00:00] Introductions.
[00.00.18] Tells of working since leaving school as a [sewing] machinist in Royston, then as an employee of Teachers Whiskey Bond, during the period 1960-1990.
[00:00:58] Comments that she retired just prior to closure of Teachers Whiskey factory.
[00:01:08] Comments that there was little if any change to personal working conditions due to factory closures in Sprinburn area.
[00:01:19] Informs that they were a day shift worker.
[00:01:26] Informs that neither she nor husband ever lost their jobs or were out of work.
[00:01:32] Describes average day in family home. Informs that husband was a shift worker with Marinite, Petershill Road which then had changed its name to Cape [Industrial], working with asbestos.
[00:02:10] Comments that there were no health problems in the family during that period, only now.
[00:02:22] Tells of negative impact upon Springburn of Margaret Thatcher government.
[00:02:45] Comments that her job was not specifically affected.
[00:02:49] Agrees with interviewer that there was/is an attitude that women are "mothers first then workers second".
[00:02:57] Describes routine of juggling work and childcare commitments as working mother.
[00:03:32] Mentions social aspects of working, performance related pay as machinist, and hard work of Teachers Whisky Bond.
[00:04:02] Tells of mass unemployment in Springburn after Teachers Whiskey Bond factory and Springburn locomotive factories were closed down.
[00:04:20] Describes feeling lucky that family life was not affected by closures.
[00:04:42] Informs has worked all adult life and now attends ‘Alive & Kicking’ project.
[00:05:05] Agrees with interviewer there was loss of community in Springburn after local factory closures. Comments it was worse in beginning of closures [1980s] than in 1990s.
[00:05:38] Comments attitude to work did not change after job losses and had worked both part-time and full-time as working mother during this time.
[00:06:00] Remarks had preference for part-time work.

Recording and transcript of Rebekah Russell in conversation with Molly Roy on 1 October 2014. Molly Roy was born 02/05/32. She married and worked for the General Post Office amongst other jobs. At time of interview she lived in Parkhouse.

Time-coded summary:

[00:00:00] Introductions.
[00.00.12] Gives details of growing family and husband’s employment during the period 1960 to 1990.
[00.00.40] Clarifies they do not live in Springburn but in Parkhouse.
[00:00: 52] Informs they were a Telephonist with the GPO (General Post Office) from c. 1964 working 3hr and 5hr night shifts starting from 6 pm.
[00.01.21] Explains that left job as a switchboard operator at GPO to work jobs during day after having children.
[00.01.38] Informs there were no changes to working conditions as employee of GPO when local factories closed down.
[00.01.53] Describes having had routine family life during period under study, with three children, housework and holidays etc.
[00.02.25] Informs neither she nor husband lost jobs during this period.
[00.02.32] Informs there were no health problems in family at the time either.
[00.02.41] Mentions feeling relieved that neither they nor family members were made redundant during this time.
[00.02.57] Remarks that knew of many people who’d been made redundant throughout this time but no close family or friends.
[00.03.10] Agrees [approves] that there is idea that women are "mothers first and workers second”.
[00.03.26] Tells of necessity, having three children, of going out to work and support of husband.
[00.03.55] Explains only worked out of necessity.
[00.04.02] Remark that enjoyed most jobs they held, particularly being telephonist.
[00.04.20] Describes reluctance to being housewife after working and children grown up.
[00.04.45] Explains did not experience change of attitude to work after local factory closures and job losses.
[00.05.05] Describes not experiencing loss of community after factory closures, as were not personally community orientated.
[00.05.35] Describes sense of satisfaction and achievement in being mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Recording and transcript of Julie Shaw in conversation with Anni Donaldson, 10 February 2014. Anni Donaldson worked as a woman visitor for the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (RSSPCC) in Glasgow from 1970. Ann discusses her working role, areas and facilities she worked in, and the conditions in Glasgow at the time.

Recording and transcript of Julie Shaw in conversation with Sister Consolata Smyth, 13 January 2014. Sister Consolata worked as a teacher and house mother in Edinburgh in the 1960s and 1970s. She discusses her roles, the condition of the homes, colleagues, education and experiences with troubled girls.