Pauline Johnson

“Now that I’m older, and I have done it since … since early forties, I feel that, to lose so much independence all those years, that you could have lived independently and didn’t.” Pauline Johnson

Born 29 September 1949
 
Educated Victoria Physically Handicapped School, Small Heath

Pauline Johnson Tape 1 Listen here:
Born on 29 September 1949 in Handsworth. Pauline's parents were married on 2 October 1948, and lived (until 1956) with Pauline's paternal grandfather, Henry Johnson, at Willey Road, Aston. Family then moved to 151 Grange Road... 00:31:28

Pauline Johnson Tape 2 Listen here:
In 1990, Pauline went to live at Prospect Hall in Bristol Road in Selly Oak. It was run by Social Services for rehabilitation and to learn skills of independent living. Christmas 1990. Learning budgeting. Prospect Hall was... 00:31:23

Pauline Johnson Tape 3 Listen here:
Harry Johnson was Pauline's father. The Nelson pub, Grange Road, Small Heath. Parental rows over money. Pauline's father was born in 1922. His family tree. Harry did Army service in Burma. Pauline's mother, Eileen, was in... 00:19:15

Pauline Johnson Tape 4 Listen here:
Pauline was variety artist on the amateur circuit. Pauline joined Midlands Spastics Association [now called Cerebral Palsy Midlands] in 1965-6. Pauline left school in 1965 and joined the MSA Wednesday Night Club... 00:31:29

Pauline Johnson Tape 5 Listen here:
Pauline played with dolls, teddies and an easel made by Triang. Reading. First watch at the age of 11. Memories of Victoria School for the Physically Handicapped. Mr Perrett, headmaster. Harvest Festival. Special bus run by... 00:31:22

Pauline Johnson Tape 6 Listen here:
Pauline attended a two-week assessment course in 1964 and was judged "unable to work" and "unemployable". For 25 years, she became an entertainer of other people with cerebral palsy. Pauline retired from entertaining, after... 00:31:26

Pauline Johnson Tape 7 Listen here:
Pauline's relationship with George. They have been together since 1993... 00:04:46

Pauline Johnson Tape 8 Listen here:
Coach trips, including visits to Derby and Stratford, with her mother. Week's holiday in Lincolnshire at home of Mr and Mrs Cox in summer of 1961. The Coxs breed poodles. Travelling on steam trains. Pauline's dogs Bob and... 00:31:20

Pauline Johnson Tape 9 Listen here:
National Lottery. Writing her mother's biography. Pauline remembers a day trip to Calais as a young woman. Her mother's sense of humour. Pauline's views about how young people with cerebral palsy should be supported... 00:13:36

Download a transcript of the Pauline Johnson interview (PDF, 413kb)