Elsa Marks

Born

1st January 1920 in Yeadon

Background

Grew up in Haw Street, Yeadon, and now lives in the Wharfedale View Apartments, Yeadon.

Date of Interview

30th August 2019

“You have my agreement to include my mothers interview in The Back-Chat Collection.”

Val Butcher (12th October 2020)

When I interviewed Elsa Marks she was 99 years old with a memory as sharp as can be.

It is obvious from the beginning that I am having to talk fairly loudly but at 99 years of age a little deafness can be forgiven.

Elsa was born two years after the end of the First World War and it is fascinating to hear her memories of Yeadon Railway Station, steam train trips to Blackpool and the bleakness of Cemetery Road.

A mother's warning to children of Elsa's age was 'don't go playing near the dam it's too mucky!'

This lady has so many memories, a flying circus at Yeadon Airport, a trip up in a biplane and Frankie Vaughan to name but a few. The memories just don't stop.

A remarkable woman who was a pleasure to interview. Elsa Passed away peacefully on 11th February 2021 at 101 years old.


Carlo Harrison



Interviewer: Carlo Harrison
Sound Engineer David Myers
Cataloguer: Fiona Quinton

HTML5 Audio Player

You can listen to the entire recording by clicking the start arrow or you can move the slider to a specific portion of the recording.

Yeadon Station0.00
Train To Blackpool From Yeadon02.10
The Wild Duck, Yeadon04.36 
Cemetery Road, Yeadon04.56
Yeadon Dam09.01
Temperance Hall, Yeadon09.48
Olive Harrison13.03
King Street Market, Yeadon13.53
Yeadon Airport15.35
Flying Circus19.35
Weaving20.59
James Ives Mill23.34
Fundraising29.31
Boys Club, Yeadon31.50
Frankie Vaughan32.18
Dancing32.40
Sequence Dancing34.23
St John's Church Hall35.43
Yeadon Town Hall37.30


Please take into consideration when listening to these interviews that the meaning of language changes over time and that interviewees have not intended to cause offence by anything said which now may be thought to be unacceptable.

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Carlo Harrison