Biography of Shirley

Shirley Pankhurst (her maiden name) Tilling Green Vaccination Centre

Shirley said she had never wanted to do voluntary work but a friend encouraged her to help at the Vaccination Centre, Tilling Green Community Centre. She enjoys the camaraderie and has made new friends, leading to a new lease of life.

At age 71 Shirley is very independent with strong roots in Rye having lived here all her life with a short spell in Hastings which she didn’t like. Her dad and siblings were born in Wish Ward and he met Shirley’s mum, from Streatham, and married after meeting for six weekends.

Shirley’s first school was Ferry Road, then New Road for secondary. She met her best friend at the school gates aged 4 and stayed friends despite falling out sometimes! She didn’t particularly like school and wanted to be a hairdresser but her mum couldn’t afford the apprenticeship of £1 per week.

Shirley has had a varied working life, her first job aged 15 working in a barber’s. Her dad wouldn’t let her leave school until she had another job and not allowed to leave there until she had secured another. She still has her first pay packet £3-7s-6d. Afterwards she worked at Winters Dairy in Cinque Ports Street and soon after went to Woolworths, which is now the library. At 17 she moved to Dean’s Rag Book Company, a toy-making factory and graduated to machine sewing. She really enjoyed this and the people she worked with. One memorable toy was a black monkey and she would get home covered with black fur!  Dean’s was located at the site of Webbe’s Fish Café inTower Street - she thinks the company still exists in London.

Later Shirley worked at Sharp’s Pottery in the converted building next to the level crossing. She still has two Rye Pottery ducks and reflected on the change from six potteries to now just one. Shirley was very proud of a piece which she had painted herself – Ratty from Wind in the Willows – kept safely under glass. She clearly loved working there and seemed pleased to talk me through the process. She described a happy working environment with the boss often taking them to the pub at lunchtime!

Sadly, Shirley’s dad died when she was only 20 and she lost her mum when she was 31. She talked about her sadness and how people were too embarrassed to talk to her about it. She’s very family-focused with photos of children and grandchildren around. She met her husband at The 58 Club in Winchelsea Beach and married when she was 22. He was divorced and they had to go to Battle Registry Office as rules about divorcees prevented them marrying in Rye unless they opted for the Baptist Church. They lived with her parents then got a house in Tilling Green when their two children were born.  

Shirley took on cleaning which allowed her flexibility with school and later at Pontin’s. She started out glass-collecting and worked on the bar. She worked in many pubs and clubs including The Pipes and The Ship Inn. Her last jobs were at Rye Golf Club and The Masonic Hall in St. Leonards – finishing at 3pm at the first and starting 6pm at the second.  Although she says she was always shy she feels this work brought her out of her shell.

Shirley reminisced about the big annual summer fair with horses and all sorts of entertainments. She gets frustrated about the health and safety restrictions that stop certain things taking place, although does remember a fire during one of the bonfire events!

She feels life has changed a lot in Rye with a loss of respect for each other and the change in Council responsibilities. She misses seeing children playing out and feels it is less safe. She thinks young people are better off today, women are getting a voice. She is very happy that she lives in Rye.

Audio of interview with Shirley