Interview with Joyce Salmon

Interview with Joyce Salmon, born in Paris in 1916. Talks about her mother Adelina growing up in a wealthy London family with property in France and Italy, and her father Walter, a Cockney salesman who rose rapidly to be manager of a British firm in Paris. Mentions that her parents met in Paris, and she grew up speaking French with her mother and English with her father. Refers to attending school in France, and being sent to a private school in England for two years. Comments on having had Spanish flu as a child and consequent health problems later. Talks about beginning training as a nurse at the British Hospital in Paris but marrying and emigrating to New Zealand with her husband John before she completed training. Talks about her homesickness here, culture shock, and feeling depressed until she met French people. Mentions her husband was not called up for military service in World War II as he was in an essential industry building and running the Exide battery factory. Refers to not knowing if her parents had escaped France at a time when she was pregnant. Recalls the 1942 Wairarapa earthquake and damage caused in their home. Talks about their excitement with news of the Normandy landings and the liberation of France.

Discusses her involvemement with the Wellington Cerle Francaise, and the Lower Hutt Cercle being started to keep up French culture when people could not get to meetings in Wellington. Talks about the teachers and wool-buyers' wives involved, and about socialising with the Vivequin and Mortelier families. Comments that she prefers to read in French and built up the French library in the Lower Hutt Club. Mentions being restricted in attending club activities when her children were young and when she was working. Refers to French club picnics and the French food they ate. Comments on returning to the Wellington Cercle after the war when she could get a ride with a neighbour, the French commercial attache. Mentions attending Bastille Day celebrations at the French ambassador's residence. Reflects that she has always been attracted to French things but never describes herself as French.

Contents: Accompanied by: notes (3 p)

Interviewer(s) - Pip Oldham

Recorded by - Pip Oldham

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHDL-000197

Quantity: 1 digital sound recording(s) digital sound recording(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2.21 Hours and minutes Duration.

Physical Description: Digital sound recordings - wave audio

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5946.

Colour photograph of Joyce Salmon (2006?)

Search dates: 1916 - 2006