Interview notes from oral history with Leslie John Wearne

DESCRIPTION

ContributorCommunity HistoryDescriptionLes Wearne was interviewed by Jane Donald and Sheana Masterson. Notes were taken in place of an audio recording.

Themes include family life, Scarborough, his father, looking after children, driving in Scarborough, World War Two and food supplies, Canada and his future wife, the arrival of “war brides”, people like Johnny Alvar, the residents and community of Scarborough, entertainment, Jack Harvey and cricket.

Mr Wearne’s paternal ancestors came from Redruth in Cornwall, England, and his maternal people from Scotland. His grandfather went to South Australia where his father was born, and his mother came from Victoria. The Wearne family lived in Hamersley Road, Subiaco, and the three children were born there, before they moved to Wembley. Mr Wearne’s father was a grocer and ran his own business.

The Wearnes' first became acquainted with Scarborough through friends who spent their holidays there. Mrs Wearne and one son shared accommodation with Mrs Steele and her son on one occasion. This was behind Gow’s shop and consisted of one-room cubicles. The shop was on Scarborough Beach Road and located where the new Post Office is today. Each cubicle was just large enough for a double bed and a wardrobe. The showers were situated on the beach. It was quite usual for four people to share a bed. Mr Wearne says that during World War Two when housing was in short supply, the cubicles on the beach and backing on to the limestone retaining wall were used as temporary housing. The walls and floors of the cubicles were concrete and the roofs were made of asbestos.CollectionCoastal collectionDate created1987

CONNECTIONS

Related personLeslie John WearneRelated placeScarborough

IDENTIFIERS

Accession number2025.0073

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Interview notes from oral history with Leslie John Wearne