Disability Voices
Battye, Cedric. Unheard Voices: interviews with deafened people
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Type
sound
Duration
01:34:36
Shelf mark
C1345/12
Subjects
Hearing Loss
Recording date
2008-12-13
Recording locations
The Westminster Hotel, Chester
Interviewees
Battye, Cedric, 1922- (speaker, male)
Interviewers
Sanderson, Jan, 1955- (speaker, female)
Transcribers
Barrett, Francis (Speech-To-Text Reporter - Palantypist, male)
Abstract
Part 1: Family background, Born 1922 in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, to parents, Father Clement Battye, Mother Annie Battye. Mother AB died in 1931, 2 years after birth of youngest son. 5 children in Family. (06:22) Family generations working in local textile mill. Schooldays, taking 11 plus exam & entering Honley Grammar School in 1934. Aimed for career in Engineering, unsuccessful. In 1938 Cedric took on a vacancy in Textile Mill. (15:13) Discussion relates to childhood days, visits to Grandparents, attending Sunday School & Christmas. Remembers many of school friends. (21:38) Pursues career in Engineering, started as office clerk 1938, in local firm David Browns Engineering, Holmfirth. First member of Battye family to pursue career away from mills & in pipes & bricks. (27:15) Problems with ears discharging started aged approx 11/12yrs of age. Treatment at Huddersfield Infirmary. Appearance of polyps which were removed using a ‘snare’, without anaesthetic, excruciating pain, & treatment with silver nitrate. Problems in school, unable to hear teacher caused distress. (33:14) Father CB having hearing loss, used Hearing aids. Cedric talks of ceased visits to Huddersfield Infirmary but of continued discharge from his ear. Misunderstandings in communication in his employment but of no detriment, continued working at Engineering Works for 43yrs. (40:17) Social life with colleagues. Joined the Choir at local chapel aged 18/19yrs, & joined local brass band. (00:49:06) Due to join army in 1942 but rejected due to hearing loss. Met wife Jenny at work, married in 1947, had 2 sons Philip & Charles, 4 grandchildren. Talks of playing snooker in a League, 5 days a week. (01:06:15) Hearing loss & need for hearing aids, Further surgery performed on the “wrong ear”. Talked in depth re Assessment for Cochlear Implant, firstly deemed unsuitable but suitable at later date. Had Implant 1999/2000. Talks of family reaction to his hearing loss & support they gave. Equipment received from Social Services. Living in same area since birth in Holmfirth area.
Description
Interviewed for the project 'Unhead Voices: Interviews With Deafened People', conducted by Hearing Link in 2008 and 2009 in partnership with the British Library, and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Related transcripts
Cedric Battye interviewed by Jan Sanderson: full transcript of the interview (PDF)
Metadata record: