Interviewed by Alannah Dowd & Lilly Hinde

Alannah & Lily: How long have you lived in the area?
Mary: All my life.

Alannah & Lily: What’s a fond memory you have of living here?
Mary: That all of my nine children grew up in this house.

Alannah & Lily: Have you seen this community come back from hard times before?
Mary: The only hard times were after the war when we couldn’t get tea and sugar, and everything was tight. After that, everything started to improve in the community.

Alannah & Lily: What are some things that have helped you through lockdown and what brings you joy?
Mary: Cooking and shopping brought me joy through the lockdown.

Alannah & Lily: What does community mean to you? What sort of things are you doing now to stay connected to your community and family?
Mary: I stay connected with my family by phone and text messages. Tidy towns is a main part of the community that everyone takes part in to keep the locality clean.

Alannah & Lily: What message do you want to share for yourself and this community in 10 years time?
Mary: I hope there is a play area for my grandchildren when they come to visit us. There is also a need for a car park in the village.