Audio Recordings

                                                                                                                                                 

Sound Recordings	Click title to play. Ear Alert: Some files are louder than others.
	H.S Southall in 1952 Grandfather Southall briefly recalls his best years in Methodism and his hopes for a more socially interactive church. This was recorded on one of the the very first home recorders for sale in England. Father and I had seen the Schophnie Baird machine demonstrated at the 1951 Festival of Britain and he decided to buy one.
	Cora's Wishlist, c.1960 Portugal in the late fifties and early sixties did not provide us with certain necessities. Visitors from England were tasked with bringing them in their luggage. Eons before the the internet, people would send tiny tape reels through the mail with messages and news like this one.
	Lois' Guide Camp, 1962 After a few years as a Brownie, Lois graduated to the Guide hut next door in the Oporto British School field. Like all girl guides she looked forward to the periodic camps where all she had learned would be put into action. Here she recounts one such experience.
	Entering Paris 1964 I was 20 years old when seated beside father, tapre recorder on lap, we made our way into central Paris. Mother can be heard helping navigate from the back seat beside Lois age 17.
	Ethel Aspey at Horseforth 1964 Recorded by Albert at his mother's house in Horseforth Leeds. Grandma is showing Cora her new clothes while Albert wants to know where he should buy the fish and chips for lunch. You may have some difficulty following the Yorkshire dialect.
	Jane and Janet at Welwyn Garden City 1964 Our cousin Jane sounds like a very correct young lady in this interview with her uncle Albert. In contrast Janet and Raymond's two rowdy young sons David and Mark can be heard in the background. Our aunt Janet mentions the family is soon moving to a larger house in Wlelyn Garden City.
	David and Mark at Welwyn Garden City 1964 Albert's lively interview with his very young nephews David and Mark. In the background a couple of chuckles can be heard from Raymond. Unfortunately we have no other recordings of our beloved uncle.
	Ann Southall, 1966 By this time the Southalls had retired to Leigh on Sea. Here, Lois is on holiday from College in London and Grandma wishes her a good trip to Portugal to visit her father. John whose birthday cake is on the table, is working in retail at nearby Southend and Cora is visiting from Portugal.
	Father Recalls an Early Road Trip, 1992 We made our first road trip from Portugal to England in 1957. Father briefly recalls a couple of memories. The car was the diminutive Austin A35, later to be replaced by several A40s.
	Cora Remembers Salamanca, Spain 1992 On our annual road trips from Portugal to England we would always stop in Salamanca, a city mother fondly remembers for its relaxed street night life.
	Cora Recalls her Guiding Days, 1995 From knowing little about the Girl Guide movement, to leading a Rangers group in England, Cora eventually founded and became Commissionnaire for all Portuguese guiding in the north of the country.
Sermons:	A handful of our father's and grandfather's sermons have survived the years.
	Sermon - Rev. Albert Aspey 1952 - Rock of Ages We moved to Derby in 1950 where father's new congregation was his largest so far. The Queens Hall Methodist Mission as all such churches had members from varying social backgrounds while placing a special emphasis on community outreach to those less fortunate.
	Sermon - Rev. H.S Southall 1951 - Gifts of the Magi A Christmas message given at the old Central Methodist Church, Blackpool. This was a very different setting to where my grandfather had made his name in Methodism, namely the huge Central missions of 1930s Bristol and wartime London. The Bristol Hall had over 1000 seats and he regularly filled them all on a Sunday night.
	Sermon - Rev. H.S Southall 1963 - Seed Time and Harvest The Battersea Central Mission, London was grandfather Southall's last church before retirement. Though quieter, his preaching style is dynamic as ever. Please note that sixty years ago the term "a white man" as used in the sermon, meant any man without a stain on his character.
	Hope you enjoyed these --- John