Catalogue description Sound recording of Betsy Miller (born c.1886) describing her life in Salford, Manchester c. 1915 onwards, and the career of her son, Ewan MacColl (1915-1989). Tape 2.

Recording of interview by Charles Parker of Betsy Miller (BM) (born c1886) describing her own life, political awareness and her son Ewan MacColl [formerly known as Jimmie Miller] career

CD-R 1 of 2

Track 1: Duration (min/sec): 1.46 Description of track: BM talks about local families and working class attitudes

Track 2: Duration (min/sec): 3.47 Description of track: talks about illegitimate children; disturbances in their neighbourhood in Salford; moved to Croyden when her husband was still alive; c1914-1934 lived in Salford

Track 3: Duration (min/sec): 2.34 Description of track: talks about her son Jimmie and his education and his early political awareness and reading

Track 4: Duration (min/sec): 4.59 Description of track: discuss daily newspapers took the 'Daily Worker' [hoover in background]; remembers the General Strike 1926

Track 5: Duration (min/sec): 2.58 Description of track: talks about Sundays and spending time with Jimmie; Jimmie's love of reading and singing

Track 6: Duration (min/sec): 3.43 Description of track: talks about her sons writing's as a child and his song 'Dirty Old Town'

Track 7: Duration (min/sec): 4.04 Description of track: talks about Jimmie's education and career prospects; he worked for a year with a publishing company

Track 8: Duration (min/sec): 2.47 Description of track: talks about Jimmie's relationships with friends

Track 9: Duration (min/sec): 3.27 Description of track: describes Jimmie's development as a writer and political leanings

Track 10: Duration (min/sec): 2.46 Description of track: talks about political awareness of Jimmie; he set up the 'Red Megaphones' a performing political street group

Track 11: Duration (min/sec): 2.53 Description of track: talks about Jimmie's unemployment after a job in a garage; BM can't recall Jimmie with the 'Red Megaphones' and their performances; recalls him lecturing in St Peter's Square lecturing and The Depression

Total duration (min/sec): 35.46

CD-R 2 of 2

(min/sec) Description of track

Track 1: Duration (min/sec): 2.08 Description of track: BM talks about supporting the family

Track 2: Duration (min/sec): 1.29 Description of track: mentions other members and activities of the 'Red Megaphones'

Track 3: Duration (min/sec): 3.50 Description of track: talks about Ewan joining the BBC; political stance of the BBC; moved from Salford to Fallowfield, near Withington, Manchester in the 1930s and took in boarders

Track 4: Duration (min/sec): 3.36 Description of track: talks about Ewan's admiration for his father's performing; generally talks about their hard life and their love of their social class

Track 5: Duration (min/sec): 2.24 Description of track: talks about Ewan and his unusual interest in folksong; life in Fallowfield when WW2 broke out

Track 6: Duration (min/sec): 3.21 Description of track: talks about their political attitudes to WW2; terrible period for working class families

Track 7: Duration (min/sec): 1.41 Description of track: describes Ewan joining the army and his decision to leave and live with a sympathetic family, he was married to Joan then

Track 8: Duration (min/sec): 3.23 Description of track: discusses how Ewan left the army; his adoption of the name 'Ewan MacColl'; mentions 'Theatre Union' and 'Theatre Workshop' which Ewan started

Track 9: Duration (min/sec): 2.04 Description of track: talks about Ewan marrying Joan Littlewood

Track 10: Duration (min/sec): 4.18 Description of track: her husband died in 1947 in Hyde, Cheshire where they moved to from Fallowfield; Ewan was becoming renowned for the 'Theatre Workshop'; continues talking about Joan

Track 11: Duration (min/sec): 2.18 Description of track: talks about his role in the 'Theatre Workshop' acting and writing, rather than singing

Track 12: Duration (min/sec): 3.50 Description of track: discusses the marriage break up of Ewan and Joan; CP first met BM when Ewan and Joan were working on the John Axon radio ballad

Total duration 34.24

See CD recording of the sixth radio ballad 'On The Edge' originally transmitted on the BBC Home Service in February 1963. Accompanying written production documentation on the radio ballad is at MS 4000/ 2/92.

Original tape reel (the tape was originally accessioned as T85 and the dubbing reference number was 63/PLA)

NSA copy of CD-R serial numbers:

CD 1 of 2: 2296 2217 5641

CD 2 of 2: 2296 2217 5642

Archive master CD-R serial number

CD 1 of 2: 2296 2217 5640

CD 2 of 2: 2296 2217 5643