Joan White
Joan White was born in 1925 at Gravelpit Farm, Heath Road, about a mile and a half outside Burwell, one of eight children. She moved into the village when she married in 1948. ‘On the farm we had cows, bullocks, horses, chickens, and turkeys there for Christmas, my father used to pluck them and my mother used to draw them all ready. We had fun in the harvest time, we used to go out in the harvest fields all day, behind the binder [which cut the corn], my brothers used to horse lead, and the days all seemed to be sunny then …’
| Time | Topics described |
| 00:00:00 | Tape inroduction |
| 00:01:05 | Meeting husband after war and moving into Burwell village from Heath Road |
| 00:03:50 | Life at Gravelpit Farm, Heath Road |
| 00:04:10 | During war joined civil nursing service |
| 00:04:50 | Description of farm |
| 00:06:04 | Fetching water for Saturday night baths |
| 00:06:21 | Brothers and sisters (8 in all) |
| 00:06:48 | St Mary’s School |
| 00:07:30 | Plucking Christmas turkeys and fun at harvest time |
| 00:08:35 | Horse leading, catching rabbits for pies, sugar beating, pickin potatoes |
| 00:10:50 | School days at British School till 14. Avoiding the “witch” on walk to school |
| 00:12:36 | Memories of mobile shops |
| 00:15:00 | Sunday school trips and school sports |
| 00:16:00 | First trip to Newmarket and other trips |
| 00:17:20 | Memories of father |
| 00:18:20 | Homes during marriage |
| 00:19:10 | Worked in Mr Hobs’ general store till kids. Later Burwell House and then took in dress making |
| 00:20:20 | Memories of rationing |
| 00:22:05 | Memories of Steven’s Mill |
| 00:24:00 | War years as an auxillary nurse, looking after wounded German prisioners of war |
| 00:22:03 | Met war wounded husband in village where his parents had been evacuated to. |
| 00:27:20 | Reflections on Burwell village changes |
| 00:30:20 | Things at museum that bring back memories |
| 00:31:45 | Dress making in the village |
| 00:33:40 | Life as a junior nurse |
| 00:35:40 | Wounded husband did light work at Marshalls and Pye before death in 1977 |
| 00:36:57 | Finish |