Interviews of May Sisi aged 89 & Helen Harmer aged 91

Biographical interview with May Sisi (b. 1925) and Nell Harmer (b.1922). This interview mainly covers their early working lives and the Newton Stewart shops and businesses they remember. Both May and Nell had worked in various shops and businesses in the town and both had family links to Newton Stewart shops. Nell had also spent time in the Royal Navy, where she became an Officer Steward. She enjoyed her time in the Navy and recalled that she was only ever on a boat for afternoon tea or dances. Both recalled that it was easy enough to get work when they were young and so you could easily swap jobs as you liked.

May married into a family that had a chip shop and made ice-cream, and Nell's family were game dealers. Nell recalled that her father had worked as a rabbit catcher and salmon fisher for the town and said that this was during the depression, when jobs were very difficult to find. May and Nell talked about various shops in town and noted that people would rarely go outside the town to shop (exceptions would be, for example, a trip to Dumfries to buy Sunday outfits). A number of businesses and shops are mentioned by name and it is noted that the town once supported many shops, including 3 drapers, 3 chemists, a number of grocers and butchers, 2 jewellers and a Co-op.

They also discuss, working hours, uniforms and making your own clothes. Speaking about public houses, May remarks that at one time you weren't allowed to drink in your own town on a Sunday and were required to travel at least 3 miles for a drink. As a consequence, the Creetown people in search of a drink came to Newton Stewart and the Newton Stewart folk went to Creetown. Towards the end of the interview, there is also a short discussion about customs and traditions including: Halloween, marriage customs, and superstitions relating to the moon and white horses.