Oral history interview with Stephen Fox

Title Oral history interview with Stephen Fox, 2022

Interview date 16/08/2022

Interview location St John Ambulance, Newcastle

Interview length 01:25:35

Interview reference ARC2023/011/051

Interview summary

Stephen (SF) joined a new Combined Cadet Division. He describes the hut that the Cadets met in, and the layout of the building, and how the content of the weekly meetings changed once the Cadet Division had been formed. He provides a detailed description of his Cadet uniform and the white haversack that Cadets carried which could make the boys a target for teasing from non-Cadets. SF recalls putting his first aid training into practice on a number of occasions, describing in particular a situation of looking after a neighbour who had broken her ankle. He also describes the documentation process that had to be done to record the patients that were attended to. SF talks about taking part in first aid competitions in teams and pairs, and how the competition would work. He recounts an inspection of a Cadet rally attended by Princess Margaret. He later goes on to describe a sail training cruise that he took part in through St John, run by the Sail Training Association. SF describes the process of obtaining the different subjects for the Grand Prior’s Award and how they were taught. He describes the different kinds of relationships that were formed at Cadets SF talks about an event for young adults in St John called The International Training Convention for Young People, where he met his future wife He goes on to talk about leading his own Cadet Division, and taking on more senior roles

Starting year: 1969

Starting Division/Unit: Felling Combined Cadet Division, Gateshead

Last updated: SD 30/03/2023