Scope and Contents 00:00 Margaret [M], aged 58, born Glasgow 1947. Left school at 16. One brother. Father alcoholic: M had to listen to all kinds of abuse at weekends. Father was very bigoted: in later life she could not have come out to him. Mother was very loving and made up for what Dad didn’t give. Not well-off. Tenement block – religious mix.03:39 The year things switched on for M was 1955, watching the film ‘Calamity Jane’: women together seemed perfect. All girls class at school. 24 in...

Scope and Contents 00:00 Margaret [M], aged 58, born Glasgow 1947. Left school at 16. One brother. Father alcoholic: M had to listen to all kinds of abuse at weekends. Father was very bigoted: in later life she could not have come out to him. Mother was very loving and made up for what Dad didn’t give. Not well-off. Tenement block – religious mix.03:39 The year things switched on for M was 1955, watching the film ‘Calamity Jane’: women together seemed perfect. All girls class at school. 24 in...

Scope and Contents Concealed life from children. Later on children started to suspect something. Son was still living at home. M was asked to move in with a woman. Asked son to stay with uncle, which M now thinks was wrong. Needed to give reason for moving: lied and said needed to rent out flat for money. Moved back after a year. Still in relationship with woman, kept hidden. Bought house together in Glasgow. Son had moved out by now; both children living with partners. M gave spiel that didn’t want to live...

Scope and Contents Concealed life from children. Later on children started to suspect something. Son was still living at home. M was asked to move in with a woman. Asked son to stay with uncle, which M now thinks was wrong. Needed to give reason for moving: lied and said needed to rent out flat for money. Moved back after a year. Still in relationship with woman, kept hidden. Bought house together in Glasgow. Son had moved out by now; both children living with partners. M gave spiel that didn’t want to live...

Scope and Contents M can tell a story, but that’s what was difficult when she came out, because wasn’t confident: lost part of personality. Within a group could usually hold attention and make people laugh. When entered the gay world, lost confidence. Didn’t know what was right or wrong. Choice of words in conversation, un-PC (not politically correct). Frightened to speak: lack of education let her down. Felt she was losing the personality she had. Didn’t know how to tune into person’s sense of humour because...

Scope and Contents M can tell a story, but that’s what was difficult when she came out, because wasn’t confident: lost part of personality. Within a group could usually hold attention and make people laugh. When entered the gay world, lost confidence. Didn’t know what was right or wrong. Choice of words in conversation, un-PC (not politically correct). Frightened to speak: lack of education let her down. Felt she was losing the personality she had. Didn’t know how to tune into person’s sense of humour because...

Scope and Contents Summary of Oral History Interview by OurStory ScotlandInterviewee: MargaretInterviewer: Jaime Valentine (and occasional questions from friend)Place of Interview: Bridge of AllanDate of Interview: 2 May 2005Summariser: Jenny SimmonsAccession no. AA005Margaret0100:00 Margaret [M], aged 58, born Glasgow 1947. Left school at 16. One brother. Father alcoholic: M had to listen to all kinds of abuse at...