Interviews of Elizabeth Ray aged 83

This interview with Elizabeth Ray, aged 84 at the time, is mainly about the Creetown shops Elizabeth remembers from her childhood. She talks about many of these in detail, including the sweetie shop her own mother ran which also catered for country children who couldn't get home for lunch during the school day. The children would bring their sandwich and be provided with a cup of tea or soup. Elizabeth goes along one side of the street and then down the other, describing each occupant, including: haberdasher; newsagent; baker, chemist; tailor; butcher. Information is also given about: mobile shops; the slaughterhouse and animal droving; getting fish; onion johnnies; transport; buying via catalogues. One interesting detail, from the days of horse transportation, is that the leases for the houses in Creetown included a clause that required the leaseholder to keep the public road clear of manure.

DG2/2/1/5 Follow up interview, August 03 2012

In this follow up interview with Elizabeth she talks about her schooldays and community life, especially considering change over time. She describes her early schooling at Creetown and then at the Ewart. She wasn't pushed at school and has some regrets about this. With her own daughter, Catherine, Elizabeth encouraged her to go away to study and was happy with the consequence of this whcih was that Catherine spent most of her working life away from Creetown. Elizabeth notes that one big change within the commuity has been that a lack of employment opportunities has meant that most of the young people moved away to find work. Discussing the changing community over time, Elizabeth describes the vibrant youth club which she joined at 18, the Sunday School picnics of her childhood and the band and drama club which thrived at one time. More generally she reflects on how the Kirk, community council etc. are all struggling for leaders now. The causes of this are discussed, including the changes in women's working patterns. Elizabeth also describes learning to 'run a house' by helping out at the lodging house run by her aunt and uncle and reflects on her own working life as a home-help.