Inverness Memories - the General Strike

In the late 1970s, Mrs Rollo, an elderly resident of Friars Street, Inverness, shared her memories of old Inverness with a Mrs. Sneddon. Mrs. Rollo had lived as a child in Shore Street and moved to Friars Street in the early 1920s. She had five of a family; three boys and two girls. Her husband worked for the Highland Railway. In this audio extract, Mrs. Rollo remembers how the family struggled during the General Strike. <br /> <br /> The photograph is of Friars Street with the steeple of the Old High Church in the background.<br /> <br /> Interviewer: D'ye remember the General Strike in 1926? Did it affect yer husband at all?<br /> <br /> That was at the hunger strike - Ah think it was only aboot five shillings we had that time. We never got much o a pay. No pay, no strike pay. <br /> <br /> Interviewer: How did ye manage?<br /> <br /> Well, Ah managed. We scraped away, some or others, an get a bite here an a bite there. Cause the two children were born in both strikes an the nurse then was saying, was saying to me the bairn was starved - she was only - she was barely five pound when she was born. An I said, 'What do ye expect wi no food tae eat?' Oh, many a hungry day we had. That's why Ah never grudge anyone a cup a tea. [Laughter]