GREGORY (GREG) FRANCIS WARDEN

Interviewer: Rebecca Amundsen

Abstractor: Robyn Powley

Interview: 5 June 2014

TRACK 1

00:25 Interview introduction – identification – GREGORY FRANCIS WARDEN – born 27/5/1949 – Recording agreement

01:17 Born in NORTH LONDON – BOROUGH of HORNSEY – first eight years – shared a house with extended family until about 14 – moved to WALTHAMSTOW – EAST LONDON – GRANDPARENTS lived with GREG’S family - lived there until 21 when he moved to NEW ZEALAND – Details

03:00 GRANDPARENTS moved to GRAYS in ESSEX – GREG was 14 – THAMES ESTUARY – FATHER in the NAVY – ADULT APPRENTCESHIP in MOSAIC FLOORS – TILBURY – Explains

03:55 Left school at 14½ - first job ENGINEERING FACTORY – 3 WEEKS – noise deafening – left and worked for a BUILDER – restless – quit and worked in a SAWMILL – pay tripled – Explains

05:54 WANDERLUST – EUROPE – SCANDINAVIA – SOUTHERN EUROPE – HITCH HIKING – FRANCE - very difficult in ITALY – THREE DAYS to get a RIDE – Recalls

07:09 EAST LONDON – IRISH friends – IRISH PUBS/CLUBS – SINGING SEMI PROFESSIONALY – FOLK and IRISH MUSIC – DUBLIN – returned to LONDON – became restless – visited AUSTRALIA – Explains

09:17 Left ENGLAND – about 21/22 years old – ship from SOUTH HAMPTON to AUSTRALIA – 5- week journey to SYDNEY – MET HIS WIFE (to be) ON BOARD – FROM NZ – TUSSOCK CREEK – married in AUSTRALIA – came to NZ – Details

10:26 Various jobs – FREEZING WORKS – ALUMINIUM SMELTER – Details

11:00 After FOUR YEARS returned to ENGLAND – worked at MATCHBOX TOYS for 6 MONTHS – LONDON TRANSPORT/STATION MASTER – SOUTH WOODFORD – CENTRAL LINE – EAST to WEST LONDON – Explains

12:39 Recalls - First TWO CHILDREN – living in CHELMSFORD in ESSEX – wife homesick – flew home to NZ with TWO LITTLE CHILDREN – bad experience in LOS ANGELES/INGLEWOOD – riots – ‘lost’ his SON at the AIRPORT – hiding in the toilet

14:16 Recalls - Came back to NZ – lived in CHELMSFORD STREET – worked for NZ FOREST SERVICE – PEBBLY HILLS/HOKONUI

15:00 End of Track 1

TRACK 2

00:01 Recalls – often covered in FROST – DRYING ROOMS – back to the SMELTER – worked there for over 30 YEARS – BRAIN HEMORRHAGE – early retirement – turned 65 – good recovery

01:20 Moved to GLENGARRY – about 1994 – broke up with WIFE – rented FLATS for about TWO YEARS – GLENGARRY ‘RUN DOWN’ – potential in TUMMEL STREET HOUSE – Describes

03:26 Workmate – lives in GLENGARRY – ROGER WILLIS – worked together for about 35 years – POT LINES – POT-ROOM ASTHMA – new job in the STORE – ROGER WILLIS worked there – Explains

04:47 Recalls - Neighbourhood – typical ‘Working Class’ – reminded him of the EAST END of LONDON – many RENTAL HOUSES – TWO-STORIED HOUSES were full – towards LIME STREET – houses were RENTALS – now PRIVATELY OWNED – now many houses empty – were many CHILDREN, now more OLDER PEOPLE – children aren’t playing on the streets now – playing on their COMPUTERS

06:48 NEIGHBOURS – SHIRLEY – about 53 YEARS – moved into a NEW HOUSE – empty space to TAY STREET – LITHGOW STREET built after – same BUILDER – same PLANS – ANDREW HOUSING and DAVE BURGESS – first SUPERMARKET in INVERCARGILL – DOCTOR – HAIRDRESSER – BANK – DAIRY – LAUNDRY – SHOE SHOP – the reason why many people bought there – WINDSOR area similar – MANY SERVICES – Explains

09:10 DOWNTURN – GANGS – packed meeting in EAST BAPTIST CHURCH – GANGS wanted to buy the OLD SUPERMARKET – Gang members at the meeting to INTIMIDATE speakers – HABITAT FOR HUMANITY bought it – worst time in GLENGARRY – Explains

10:50 GANG HOUSE in LITHGOW STREET burnt down – vacant section used for filming WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN – ANTHONY HOPKINS – Explains

11:58 Recalls – positive people who motivate – good ideas – GLENGARRY REJUVENATION – SOUP KITCHEN – BAPTIST CHURCH – CHRIS LEE – up to 70 PEOPLE – FRIENDSHIP – COMPANIONSHIP – ENVIRONMENT CENTRE – SOUTHLAND NATURAL HISTORY FILM CLUB – LLOYD ESLER, ‘A ONE-STOP SHOP’ – Explains

15:00 End of Track 2

TRACK 3

00:04 Recalls – LLOYD’S book - WHALING AND SEALING IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF NZ – GREG sang WHALING SONGS – cleans the streets – STATE and PRIVATE HOUSES – variety in his life

02:23 SHIRLEY next door – RENTALS – first home the SMELTER – PUBLIC MEETING sparked interest – Explains

03:31 TERRITORIAL ARMY – 10 years – reunion in WELLINGTON – BURNHAM ARMY CAMP – LANCE CORPORAL – GARRISON CLUB – REGULAR and RESERVE SOLDIERS – EAST TIMOR – SOLOMON ISLANDS – SINAI – BASIC TRAINING – CORP TRAINING – ANNUAL CAMP – TEKAPO – WAIOURU – WEST COAST – Details

07:24 Rented in BAMBOROUGH STREET – moved to GLENGARRY - CHARLOTTE stayed 3 YEARS – QUEENSTOWN – ENGLAND to see family – 17 ½ - LONDON – WAPPING – RIVER THAMES – TOWER OF LONDON – CHRISTIAN came to live – SARAH – nursing degree – SIT – GRADUATED – PERTH – Explains

09:06 BRAIN HEMORRHAGE – SARAH returned for 6 MONTHS – CHEF’S COURSE at SIT – CHARLOTTE in QUEENSLAND – two children – YOUNGEST DAUGHTER (SARAH) in PERTH – OLDEST SON in INVERCARGILL – YOUNGEST SON in BALCLUTHA – works at MILTON PRISON – Goes to AUSTRALIA every year – visits DAUGHTERS – GRANDCHILDREN there – Explains

10:40 Happy to stay in GLENGARRY – involvement – GLENGARRY REJUVINATION – BAPTIST CHURCH – ENVIRONMENT CENTRE – Explains

11:57 Mentions - PLANS – vegetable garden – SWEEP – footpaths/gutters – RUBBISH BINS/3 YEARS – 3 BINS – PLAYGROUND RUBBISH - FISH n CHIPS – PAPERS DROPPED

14:31 Recalls - CAR through FISH n CHIP SHOP WINDOW – KERRY – business as usual

15:00 End of Track 3

TRACK 4

00:01 CHEMIST SHOP – POST SHOP – KIWI BANK – GARAGE – NORTH SIDE SUNNY – SOUTH SIDE temperature difference – PUB – HABITAT – good bargain – Details

00:02 Interview finishes