Survey of English Dialects recording in Weston, Somerset

Description

[Side 1] Ted talks about 'Saint Monday' [= ruse among workmen of being absent on Monday due to excessive drinking on Sunday], tells series of anecdotes about planning meetings outside Kings Head public house incl. throwing brick up in air to decide whether to work or not depending on whether brick stayed on roof (i.e. in air), recalls local character once claiming doctor prescribed three days 'on sawdust' (i.e. in the pub), describes typical day strawberry picking incl. breaking off at 10am on hot days to spend rest of day in pub, discusses first job aged 14 at Chelscombe Farm 'bird-starving' [= rook-scaring, scarecrowing] during harvest while father and others cut wheat by hand with sickle, briefly describes sweeping chimney. [Side 2] Ted recalls arranging fight after school near local weighbridge, talks about local 'didicoys' [= gypsies] and regular stone throwing contests for money, mentions playing 'pitch-and-toss' [= gambling game in which person who manages to throw coin closest to
mark wins] at local quarry, recalls prank of removing cart wheels and rolling them from quarry into village, describes subsequent court appearance and order to return wheels to quarry.

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Biography or history

Ted b. Weston, aged 69, local school till aged 12, whole life in Weston except two short periods as collier near Cardiff and 8 years in Bath; wife b. Devizes. Mrs. Hawkins b. Devizes, aged 68, lived in Weston for 50 years; husband b. Weston.

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Physical and technical conditions

78 r.p.m., cellulose nitrate on aluminium

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