Audio File Name:	170225_0112
Date:			26th September 2017
Comments:			
Duration:		13.53
KEY: 
Cannot decipher = (unclear + time code)
Sounds like = [s.l + time code]
I: = Interviewer (Interviewer in bold)
R1: = Respondent 1
R2: = Respondent 2

I:	Age, can I ask your age.
	
R1:	Oh, I’ve forgotten.  65.  Oh, that’s dreadful.	
	
I:	I did mine.  Somebody asked me (over-speaking 00:00:17).
	
R2:	We forget now you see.  Sixty-seven.	
	
I:	Yes.  And, education?  What is the highest degree of level of school you completed?
	
R2:	Mine was secondary school.  I was just...

R1:	Yes, both secondary school I would say.
	
I:	And, employment status?
	
R2:	Luckily, I’m retired now.

R1:	Retired.	
	
I:	From what?
	
R2:	Maintenance engineer.

R1:	And, I was a hairdresser and then I became a tutor in a prison.
	
I:	Oh.
	
R1:	[Laughter].

R2:	Yes, barbering.

R1:	Yes, I did.
	
I:	And, where do you live?
	
R1:	Essex, a village called Sible Hedingham and it’s near Colchester, Essex.

R2:	The same.  Yes, married.

I:	And, where do you come from?

R1:	What originally?  Yes, Sible Hedingham. Essex.	

R2:	Mine was Eastham in London.  Yes, and then I moved down into Essex in 1958.

I:	So, you’ve lived there for a long time.

R2:	A long time now, yes.

I:	Why did you come to Beamish?

R1:	Oh, well, because of some friends actually.  They’d booked to come and then they contacted us and asked us if we’d like to come along as well.  And, we’d never been.  So, we said, “Oh yes, no we’d love to.”

I:	But, why do you think you wanted to come?  What attracted about you about Beamish?	

R2:	Well, just coming back, this has a young life, you know, it’s like coming back.	

I:	The history?

R2:	The history, coming back in time, you know and yes, it is.

R1:	Yes, that’s exactly what it is.

R2:	As soon as we came into town we thought, “Wow.”  And, we’ve just bought like sweets that we used to eat and different prices.	

I:	So, it was a (over-speaking 00:01:59)?

R2:	Yes, definitely.

R1:	Oh, definitely.

I:	Are you enjoying that?

R1:	Absolutely brilliant.

R2:	Oh, yes, fantastic.	

I:	Is this your first visit?

R1:	Yes.

R2:	Yes.	

I:	And, will you come back again?

R1:	Definitely.

R2:	Oh, definitely, yes.

I:	About how many museums and historic sites do you visit in a year?  I mean, it’s approximately.

R1:	I suppose maybe…

R2:	We’re national trust.  So, five or six.

R1:	Yes.

I:	So, you go around England?

R2:	Yes.

R1:	Yes, mainly our area, don’t we?  Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, because it’s all on our doorstep.

I:	Yes.  And, what are your impressions of Beamish?

R1:	Oh, yes.  Good.  Very…Well, what we’ve seen so far, very clean, very friendly.  Yes, excellent.

R2:	Yes, well organised.  Laid out lovely.

R1:	Yes.

I:	Are you interested in history of the region? (Unclear 00:02:55) but you can talk about your region?  Are you interested in your… you said you’re sort of visiting historic sites and (over-speaking 00:03:05)?

R2:	Yes, very interesting.

R1:	Yes.

I:	Why?  And, which aspects?

R1:	Oh, why?  Probably a lot of nostalgia.

R2:	Yes.

R1:	I think it’s also…it’s nice to see how other people…other areas lived.  Like, for me, my family all came from Norfolk and Suffolk but coming here it’s just how similar their lives actually were.  Although it was a lot of coalmines here, up there it was farming.

I:	Yes.

R1:	The way they lived is very similar.

R2:	Yes.

R1:	Even their houses.  So, it’s that…yes.

R2:	Yes, it’s good.  Yes, I would agree with that.	

I:	Are you interested in the history of other places or a particular places and events?

R1:	Yes.  We’re interested in the history of wherever we go.	

I:	So, you like history?

R1:	Yes.

R2:	In general, yes.

R1:	Definitely.

R2:	We love Italy.

I:	Any period that interests you the most, or…?

R2:	Well, mine used to be like Vikings and any…going right back to that day.  I’m very interested in that sort of area.

R1:	Well, I think in general…

R2:	Oh, and the Norman times, yes.

I:	Like, British history?

R1:	Yes.

R2:	Because, we live a castle called Castle Hedingham and… yes.

R1:	Yes.  But, I think in general, across the world, you know?  Like, we’ve been to China and we wanted to see the terracotta warriors and we’ve been to Egypt and I mean, we’ve been to lots of places (over-speaking 00:04:34).	

I:	(Over-speaking 00:04:36) history.

R1:	But, we like to…yes.

R2:	Very much so, yes.

R1:	So, all sorts of history really.

I:	Is history important to you personally?  And, in what way?

R1:	Yes.  I think family.  I think it’s nice to find out where your family came from, what they did.  Yes.  And, the same within a country, how our country grew, you know?  Like, for an example…

R2:	And, where we’ve come from, you know?  And, I’d say and up to the modern day.

R1:	And, so, in January we’re off to India.  So, that’s going to be interesting about when the English were there with the Raj and I think there are some things we’re not going to like but all that sort of thing interests us, doesn’t it?

R2:	And it is, once again, history.  Yes.

R1:	Yes.

I:	Okay, I have this section about your identity, which of these is most important to you? Please, place a number against each word with one being most important.  If any of these are equally important to you, then give them the same number.  If you feel any do not apply then mark them with an “x”.

R1:	Oh, I see.

I:	The first one is the most important one.

R1:	Oh, national identity.

I:	But (over-speaking 00:05:55) the same number because sometimes they are maybe equally important.

R2:	I’d tick where you’re from really.

R1:	Where you’re from.

I:	You think where you’re from?

R1:	Where you live, your occupation and…

R2:	(Over-speaking 00:06:04) and your family coming from.

I:	Yes.

R1:	National identity and European identity.  Oh, that’s a hard one.

I:	[Laughter].  It is, yes.  I mean, you don’t have to put everything in order.  

R2:	Do you need everything in the box, or just one?

I:	No, you can choose all of them or a few things, it’s up to you.

R:	Oh, I see.

I:	Sometimes you might say, “Oh this doesn’t apply.”  We can put a cross or you can just leave it.  You can just put the (over-speaking 00:06:34).

R1:	I think now occupation isn’t, is it?  Now.  So, I would say…So, what did you say number from?

I:	Number one and then number two.  I mean, the most important is going to start with number one.

R1:	Well, I would say…

I:	You put in order.

R1:	Oh, right.  I would say one,

I:	Is national identity.

R1:	Your national identity.

I:	What would you say?  Is it British or English?  

R1:	British.

R2:	Definitely.

I:	And, where are you…

R2:	I’d say, yes, it’s about the same.  Yes, whatever.

R1:	I would say one.

R2:	What else did we say?

I:	What else would you like to say?

R2:	Not so much the European.

R1:	Where you’re from.  European identity.

R2:	Your occupation, no.

R1:	Yes, occupation…

I:	And, there’s also others like religion, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, if it’s important.  If not, you can leave it.

R1:	No.  I don’t think it’s important.  It is what it is and everybody’s entitled to their own.  So, I have no…would you agree with that?

R2:	Yes, that’s right.

R1:	So, no, I don’t have a…

R2:	But, otherwise…

R1:	We’re all the same.  Where are you from, please state the origin or town.  Oh, do you want me to put where we’re from on there?  Or…

I:	Yes.  You can.

R1:	So, what would you put?  Essex or Colchester?

R2:	Yes, Essex.

R1:	And, that’s both of us.

R2:	Yes.	

I:	Yes.  And, would you put as number two or number one?

R2:	Number two.

R1:	Yes, two.  European identity, I don’t know.  I’ve never really thought...

I:	Do you feel European?  I don’t know.

R2:	No.

R1:	Well, I think...Oh, that’s a tough…do you know I’ve never thought about that.  Maybe, what’s that, one is the highest, isn’t it?	

I:	Yes, one is the highest 

R1:	Yes, I would probably put two in there.

I:	European identity.

R1:	Yes.  I think probably two.  Because I think we are.  We travel around so much that…

R2:	Well, we’re part of the European now.

R1:	Yes.  Well, at the moment.  Yes.

I:	[Laughter].  So, you would put…three, two, three?

R1:	Three.  Yes, let’s put three for that.

R2:	And me.  Yes, all the same.

I:	You’re the same?  Because you sort of talked about where you’re from is quite important.

R1:	Important.  Yes, that’s right.

I:	Yes.  Anything else you want to add?

R1:	Where you live.  Oh, yes, that’s important to us I think.  One.

I:	And, is this…

R2:	The same.  Yes.

I:	Where you live is different from where you’re from or? What would you say?

R1:	Oh, I see.  Where you live.

R2:	Sible Hedingham really.

R1:	Please tick which… where you’re from and where you live.

I:	Well, sometimes you know where you live is different from the you’re from and some people are more attached to where they live rather than where they’re actually from.
	
R1:	Well, yes, actually that would probably be more you.  I suppose mines the same 	 I’ve always lived in the same area.
	
I:	For you it’s the same because…
	
R1:	Yes.  No, I’ve always lived in the same…yes.  So, yours is probably a bit different, <R2>, isn’t it?

R2:	No, I’m fine with whatever.
	
I:	You don’t need to put…?
	
R2:	No, I’m fine, whatever.
	
R1:	You’re alright with that?
	
R2:	Yes, fine.

R1:	Occupation.  Well, it doesn’t matter anymore, we’re retired.  So, that would be a three or four.  Yes.
	
R1:	Oh, right, okay, yes.
	
I:	Then just put a cross.
	
R1:	Yes, lovely.
	
I:	You don’t have to put everything.
	
R:	No, but it’s just…
	
I:	Okay, my last questions about…well, one is about what do you feel about the future of the North East, but you can talk about your region. 
	
R1:	Oh, what do we think about the future for our region?	

I:	Yes.
	
R1:	Is that your question?
	
I:	Future of, yes.
	
R1:	I think you worry about it becoming over populated and a lack of amenities (over-speaking 00:10:49).  Yes.  And, from where we’re from we’ve got lots of building going on but the infrastructure isn’t being built on.  So, for example we’re getting all these new houses and estates but there’s no extra doctors, there’s no extra hospitals, there’s nothing extra for schooling.  So, they’re a concern because it’s the infrastructure isn’t keeping up with building that’s going on around us, is it, <R2>?

R2:	No.  Overpopulated.  Our spot, that is, definitely. That is definite.

R1:	Yes.
	
I:	What do you feel about the future of the UK and Europe?
	
R1:	That’s a hard one.  I think for us it’s not going to affect is whatever happens.  I think there’s probably more of a concern for our grandchildren and children in as much as that it’s wonderful that the world is becoming a small place.  But, it’s also a bit scary with all the things that are going on in the world today.  Yes.  So, I think the future can be a little bit worrying.

R2:	No, I agree with that.  I would definitely agree.

R1:	But, I don’t think it will affect us.  It won’t affect us.
		
R1:	I agreed with Brexit and I still do.

R2:	As long as it’s done properly in the government.

R1:	That’s right.

R2:	As long as they keep to what the promised they were going to do.

R1:	That’s right.  But, whether they do.
	
I:	Your issue is just about what they (over-speaking 00:12:20).
	
R1:	Just control.

R2:	Where they promised.
	
I:	(Over-speaking 00:12:21) not if they are going to do it.
	
R1:	Yes, that’s right.

R2:	We don’t want them to just, you know, stop and think, “Oh, well that’s near enough.”

R1:	We’ve got it now.  Yes.  No.  No.

R2:	Because, there’s a lot of people trying to change it back if we have another referendum blah-di-blah.  But, a lot of people…

R1:	Accept what has happened.
	
I:	So, you don’t want another referendum?
	
R1:	No.	
		
R2:	No, goodness me.  No, we’ve had enough voting.

R1:	[Laughter].  Let’s move on.

R2:	Let’s move on and try.

R1:	Let’s move on and that’s it.  Done.

R2:	No, lets concentrate and get it sorted.	

I:	Yes.  Like, do you feel positive about what’s going to happen or are just…
	
R1:	I think you…

R2:	Well, like I say, you can only be positive if they do it.	
	
I:	If they do it.
	
R2:	But, if they don’t (unclear 00:13:05).	
	
R1:	Well, I think in politics, I think the problem is, like now, they all need to come together to make it work.  But, all they do is moan about each other and cause more problems.

R2:	Even in their own parties they’re arguing.

R1:	So, I think politics.

R2:	And, if you’re doing that in your party how are you going to do it for other people.  We’re supposed to look up because they are our leaders as such.

R1:	I think I could do a better job some of the time.

R2:	Well, yes.	
	
I:	It’s how you feel (over-speaking 00:13:40).
	
R1:	That’s right, yes.  Honesty would help.

R2:	Honesty is the policy.

R1:	That’s for sure and I don’t think they’re always honest.  But, yes.
	
I:	Well, I’ve finished my questions.  Anything else?
	
R1:	Thank you.  No.

[End of Recording]