Tony Wilson

“Well, they didn’t want us to mix with the girls in those days: they were very, very strict in those days. They wouldn’t let disabled people mix together, the opposite sex mix together… " Tony Wilson

Born 14 June 1934, London

Education Preston Infants School and Hollingdean special school, Brighton

Tony Wilson Tape 1 Listen here:
Born 14 June 1934 at 1 Northumberland Street, Marylebone London. Can't remember mother Grace Ellen Wilson, a chemist's assistant from Ickenham. Thought his birthday was 13 June all of his life. Christened Anthony Basil Wilson.... 00:31:27

Tony Wilson Tape 2 Listen here:
Guardianship Society on the Old Shoreham Road - segregation of sexes. Weaving, embroidery, drawing. Outings with Brighton Spastics Society. Going to Hamilton House in Wilbury Avenue Hove in January 1968... 00:31:35

Tony Wilson Tape 3 Listen here:
Secondary school near Saunders Park. Allotment in playground. Steam trains at Preston Park. Coach trips. Peter Jones, a friend and chef at Sussex County hospital. Mrs Spencer foster mother. Becoming independent at... 00:31:29

Tony Wilson Tape 4 Listen here:
November 1944 to March 1945 stay in hospital. Calipers. Physiotherapy. Wearing splints in bed. Wartime sirens at night - wasn't taken out of bed. Radio: Worker's Playtime, Music Night at the Savoy. Going to London on Armistice.... 00:25:34

Tony Wilson Tape 5 Listen here:
Victoria House. One shilling a week pocket money until the 1950s, rising to 10 pounds a week in the late 1980s. January 1968 going to Hamilton House. Preston Manor School and to the age of 11 and special school in Hollingdean... 00:31:30

Tony Wilson Tape 6 Listen here:
First visit to the seafront in 1946. Going to the Duke of York cinema for 9d to see Gone with the Wind. Moved to St Martin's Place. The Spastics Society Trip to Windsor. Moved to Peacehaven. ... 00:30:27

Tony Wilson Tape 7 Listen here:
Staying at Stanmore hospital at the age of nine from November 1944 to February 1945. Mixing with war casualties in the hospital swimming pool. No cards or presents for birthdays. The Spastics Society Holidays at Westcliff... 00:31:35

Tony Wilson Tape 8 Listen here:
Feelings about Wendy's death. Christmas at Clacton. The effect of ageing - the recent fall in the street. Cost of living and spending. Disability Allowance. Typical day. Day centre routine. Bluebell Railway.... 00:17:07

Download a transcript of the Tony Wilson interview (PDF, 527kb)