Interview with Peter Beams

Interview with Peter Beams, born in Clapham, London in 1929. Talks about his family background, early life and schooling in Glasgow and weekends at Loch Lomond. Recalls his father built an Anderson air raid shelter in their back garden. Comments on being evacuated to New Zealand with his two older brothers in 1940, and not bringing any personal items with them. Refers to sailing on the SS Ruahine and suffering from sea sickness. Recalls the ship being visited in Wellington by prime minister Peter Fraser. Talks about being taken with his brothers to a magnificant house (Tudor House) in Park Road, Belmont to stay with George and Ethel Seers. Mentions the history of the house which was owned by General Motors at the time. Describes their accomodation and mentions the cook Betty Verity and parlour maid Jean Hyde. Talks about food, eating mostly in the servants' quarters, tennis, billiards, entertainment and discipline. Comments on spending a lot of time walking the hills, walking the dog and playing war games with friends. Refers to being taught to wait on table. Reflects that he and his brothers were fairly self-sufficient because they were not used to closeness in their family. Refers to attending Hutt Central School and later Nelson College, and talks about life there as a boarder. Mentions that he was not really concerned with news of the war but kept up with it. Recalls hearing of Pearl Harbour, submarine sightings around New Zealand, and the Americans having ammunition dumps in the Western Hutt Hills. Recalls the 1942 earthquake.

Comments that he was required to return to Britain at the end of the war but having "nowhere to go home for". Refers to sailing with one brother on the SS Rangitata via the Suez Canal and being met by their father who was a stranger to them. Comments that their parents were separated and he met his mother later. Refers to working on a farm until he was called up for National Service in 1947. Comments on serving in Egypt and Malaya, being demobbed in Sydney and returning to New Zealand in 1950 after recovering from malaria. Talks about going back to live with the Seers whom he had kept in contact with. Discusses working for Wright Stephenson & Co (stock and station agents) and his subsequent career including working at General Motors and finally starting his own sign company. Mentions marrying his wife Mona Cadwallader in 1953 and building their house. Refers to meeting his mother and brother Tony in England in 1985, and also meeting his father again once they located him. Comments on a memoir he was writing about his own experiences. Reflects being grateful for the experiences and opportunities he has had that would not otherwise have been available to him, but regrets the lack of a family life when young.

Accompanying material - Partial memoir by Peter Beams written for his children, covering his life up to the 1970s (OHDL-001383)

Interviewer(s) - Susan Fowke

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHDL-001380

Quantity: 1 digital sound recording(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 digital photograph(s) - Tiff file. 1 electronic scan(s) of original colour photographic print(s). 9 electronic scan(s) of original black and white photographic print(s) - Tiff files. 1 Electronic document(s) - word document (partial memoir). 1 interview(s). 3.47 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7242.

Search dates: 1929 - 1939 - 2009 - 1945