Interview with George Thorpe

Remembers childhood in Spinney Hill Park area of Leicester, local people, games, building of General Hospital. Gives family details, introduction to father's shoe business in Baggrave Street. Talks about the shoe trade in 1920s, trade union involvement, collapse of business after General Strike of 1926. Describes job in insurance, being union representative, wages, dealings with a particular manager, joining Civil Service in 1941. Describes becoming branch secretary of union, mentions strong union man Jimmy Bell, reflects that General Strike killed off many small businesses. Outlines his way of settling strikes, negotiating successfully