Saunders, Leslie (Tex)
Production date
1993
Description
Oral history. Describes his childhood at the Masterton orphanage and then his working life as an adult in Taranaki as well as his love of country music.
Recorded: 23 July 1993
Interviewer: Denyse Bettridge
Soundcloud
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Object detail
Part 1
Side 1:
Orphaned at an early age, Tex lived in an orphanage in Masterton from the age of two to fourteen. He describes school as an escape from a harsh environment. He had a passion for athletics. He describes an earthquake 1946-47. An aunt in Hawera found him a job on a farm in Matapu. From there he got work in the dairy industry and got his 2nd class boiler ticket. Talks of cheese and butter making - working at Edgecombe and Lepperton. Later worked as a boilerman at Ivon Watkins Dow, New Plymouth and then worked on the waterfront.
Side 2:
Has a great love of country music. Used to sing soprano in Masterton Methodist church choir. Describes big 'country' shows in New Plymouth - the Mardi Gras at the Palladium and Sound Shell at Ngamotu Beach. Talks of talent contests - the fourth year of competing - won. Talks of various people involved with country music - Eddie McCutcheon, Max Childs, Leo Davis, Margaret Brown. Formed the Taranaki Country Music Club C1978. Describes how the club broke into factions.
Recorded: 23 July 1993
Interviewer: Denyse Bettridge
Abstraction: Mary Donald
Digital file
WAV recording
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