History & Heritage

Vic Howarth (2nd Interview)

James Victor (Vic) Howarth, born 30 March 1930 in the house in Priest Lane Cartmel where again he lives at time of interview.  Irini Tzortzoglou and John Batty recorded 2 interviews with him on 30 January 2016 (58 minutes), and 6 February 2016 (50 Minutes).

In the first interview, he mentions how his father came to Cartmel after WW1 as a rating and valuation officer (collecting local authority rates); description of Cartmel Primary School with names of his teachers and school friends; details of old children’s games called Nerky and Guinea Pig; description of the Institute as a working mens’ club; descriptions of some former shops in Cartmel; war time memories, including finding unexploded incendiary bomb on Hampsfell; nick-names for the four pubs in Cartmel; history of his house, Croft House, in Priest Lane.

In the second interview, he mentions memories of his time at Ulverston Grammar School, subsequent graduation from UCL with degree in physiology and then career with Marine Biological Laboratory in Plymouth; memories of playing for Cartmel Cricket Club and explanation of the title of the book about the club called ‘B’twixt Cock and Fairy’; memories of evacuees in Cartmel during WWII and other local war time organisations; further memories of former shops in Cartmel; memories of a boxing club in Cartmel, several articles written for the parish magazine, and that the local river once had salmon and eels.

Second Interview 06/02/2016: