Remembering Rodborough - Maisy Baker - Remembering Rodborough - Maisy Baker

Summary of Maisie Baker interview

· Maisie Baker – in her 90’s – I Castlemead supported by Nesta Childs from opposite

· Moved to big house Paton opp RB Ave 1952; (said RB was then and still is upmarket) moved to her current home 1963 – first to put the money down for a house on the new estate – thought how wonderful it would be to live where her children used to play cricket and football

She thinks that cars have had a profound impact on life and not always for the better - the problems of parking - the loss of front gardens - the impact on local shops - people used to have more opportunity to meet in the street for a chat - the loss of the local Co-op - moved to her new home in 1963 - first to have name down for a house here - remembers the tragedy of the death of the 2 boys in the barn in the fire - Nesta Roberts who was with me during the interview thinks it was 1967 - all her 3 sons in the choir - Maisy led the making of the hassocks for St. Mary Magdalene's - descriptions of the church at Christmas - street parties for the Queen - she now lives in a house where her boys used to play cricket and football - both Maisy and Nesta agree that the children around here have always been good - few memories of a bobby about - Maisy remembers sharing a TV in Rodborough Avenue to watch the Coronanation in 1953
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· Lovely place to live – grown considerably – the parking upsets everything eg people paving their gardens to park their cars – spoils drainage and views etc – she remembers the cattle on her gardens too as - people don’t mix as much now – partly due to cars so can’t talk in the street – partly because local shops have closed and partly because women work now – fond memories of the local sweetshops and esp the Coop

· Thinks the tragic death by burning of the boys in the barn was 1967 – family lived where Bernie Hodgkin now lives in Castlemead

· Key member of the congregation at Mary Magdalene – organised and led the makng of all the hassocks for the Church – congregation used to meet outside the Church and chat then – lovely atmosphere at Easter and Christmas

· Proud of the achievements of her boys