Merle Davies

“You see I was about seven when the War ended, so there wasn’t a lot of money but they always provided well for us... We didn’t have television in those days. Listen to the radio. Playing out in the street, I remember playing skipping and hopscotch... Oh well, I knew I was different from other children. I integrated well with other children and some of them were very supportive. Others took the Mickey [laughs] but mainly they were quite supportive…” Merle Davies

Born 14 November 1936
 
Educated Various including Gravesend Horticultural Training College; Thomas Delarue School, Tonbridge

Merle Davies Tape 1 Listen here:
Parents’ choice of name. Born in wartime Harlesden. Mother was previously in service in Brighton. Home birth – lack of oxygen. Walking at 18 months but diagnosed as having CP. At eight, Merle went into hospital to have a heel... 00:31:08

Merle Davies Tape 2 Listen here:
Examinations. Merle’s uncle and grandfather were miners. Parents has chapel upbringing and were staunch Conservative. Merle had a sister when she was 12. Grandmother had 13 children. Merle lived upstairs in a pub; mother had a p... 00:31:27

Merle Davies Tape 3 Listen here:
Shorthand typing for The Spastics Society at Euston Road. Seven letters per day. Margaret Morgan head of employment services at Fitzroy Square. Merle was also offered a job as a house mother at Craig-y-Parc School in South Wales... 00:31:28

Merle Davies Tape 4 Listen here:
Summary of later school years. No social integration, both at horticultural and secondary school. Was compared to others. Limited contact with opposite sex. Sent on courses by Scope to do with work experience... 00:31:32

Merle Davies Tape 5 Listen here:
Margaret Morgan offered Merle the job of holiday adviser. Assessment and Advisory Service. In 1996, Merle retired from Scope after 37 years. Disability Now. Hobbies in retirement. Tourism for All, under the chair of Mary Baker... 00:27:23

Merle Davies Tape 6 Listen here:
Assessment team of occupational psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and doctors. Care in the Community work... 00:20:48

Merle Davies Tape 7 Listen here:
Gap in employment role. Scope’s services regionalised. At the end of the society working one day a week. Did not find it easy, not disciplined enough. She left, difficult to come to terms with not working any more…00:31:20

Merle Davies Tape 8 Listen here:
Worked for Placing Assessment Team or similar team. Merle made notes on percentage customer satisfaction. Write up results in a report. Wished she had more chance to help people. Was not able to maximise her potential. Did not go to university... 00:31:23

Merle Davies Tape 9 Listen here:
Cruise holiday around the Baltic ports. St Petersburg with Saga Holidays. Friendships. Worked for Scope and organised a sponsored walk in Epping Forest. Social secretary of the 62 Club. PHAB Clubs. Committed Christian at age 22... 00:48:09