Interview with Len and Joyce Brown
(OHInt-0403-1)

Joyce and Len Brown were both born in Wellington in 1923 and 1919 respectively. They give details about their family backgrounds - Len's maternal grandfather W.A.D. Skinner was the Government Printer and Joyce's paternal grandfather established H. Brittain Pharmacy in Wellington. Joyce's father, Albert Brittain, was also a pharmacist while her mother, Elspeth Tavendale, was a telephonist. Len's father, William Brown worked for the Wellington Harbour Board. His mother, Ethel Brown (nee Skinner) was a dressmaker whose work was crucial to the family's survival during the Depression.

Joyce describes her family home in Resolution Street, Kilbirnie which she lived in till her marriage. Describes the musical talent in her family, family holidays and the family's attendance at church. Len describes the Ross Street family home, hard times during the Depression, being a boy soprano at church, Lyall Bay School and Rongotai College. They recall that they probably met through church. Joyce discusses pacifism within the Methodist Church and the split within the church before World War II over the pacificism of Methodist ministers such as Ormond Burton. Len recalls producing a newspaper in opposition to the Bible Class newspaper.

Len discusses the Ross Street neighbours, Brownlies (?) timber yard, the blacksmith, milkman and door to door butcher. Joyce recalls the Resolution Street neighbours, including the Riddells of J.C. Riddell Engineering, playing rounders as children and the shortcut to the beach. Describes how her mother and friends ran a soup kitchen during the Depression, the sale of the family pharmacy, the absence of an unemployment benefit and families looking after one another, doing the washing with a copper and mangle (wringer) and making soap. Joyce recalls a lack of sex education, playing basketball, influential teachers, enjoying music and verse and Wellington East Girls' College. Len recalls playing rugby and being thrown out of Bob Semple's meeting. They recall local shops.

Len recalls joining the Air Force during World War II while Joyce describes her involvement in the Emergency Precautions Scheme (EPS). Talks about the changes in Resolution Street for the Centennial Exhibition. Notes that after the Exhibition the site and buildings were used by the Air Force as wool stores before the fire in 1946. Recalls marrying in 1944, having four children, living in New Plymouth and Len becoming Shipping Manager of Shell. Describes moving back to Kilbirnie. Mentions the opening of Rongotai Airport and they comment that the airport noise does not bother them.

Describes the biggest change in the area as the development of community. Discusses the community centre, CAB (Citizens' Advice Bureau), health care, shopping centre and Aquatic Centre.