Interview with Phyllis Davis

Recalls early family life, including father becoming Prisoner of War during the First World War. Describes moving to Nottingham and Loughborough before moving back to Leicester and New Walk in 1930. Gives very detailed description of New Walk in the 1930s and 1940s, including houses, occupants and history of the New Walk. Mentions father being progressive and allowing her to attend university. Gives detailed portrait of her education from school in Nottingham and Loughborough, attending Newarke Girls school in 1923 and gaining an endowment scholarship to train as a teacher at Bedford College in London. Describes reading Chemistry and Mathematics and living as a student in London. Details accommodation, students union, theatre and debating society. Recalls first job for Leicester Elementary School Service as Science teacher, says this was a rare job for women. Notes she and friends felt emancipated and mentions her mother taught when married but this not usual. Mentions move to Sir Johnathan North school where she stayed until 1945 when her son was born returned to teaching in 1963. Comments science at Johnathan North was not academic