Auntie Anne

Listen to Auntie Anne's story as part of The Making of Black Britain oral history project

Diane and Auntie Anne, after sharing her story for The Making of Black Britain (2021)The Making of Black Britain

Auntie Anne is of British heritage. 
She was born in the north of England. Auntie Anne has fostered a number of children.

Auntie Anne was interviewed for The Making of Black Britain on 4th September, 2021.

Auntie Anne (2021)The Making of Black Britain

Auntie Anne discusses her relationship with her mother
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Mum went out and it was our house that were on fire.

And my brother and sister, they ran down into the cellar because there used to be a stone slab where they kept meat and cheese and things on, and they died. And I think my mother always blamed me because if I hadn't had the gastroenteritis she wouldn't have had to go out of the house, and my brother wouldn't have been playing with fire and started the fire. 

Baby Auntie Anne with her mother (1944)The Making of Black Britain

Auntie Anne as a baby, with her mother, 1944

Auntie Anne (2021)The Making of Black Britain

Auntie Anne talks about her family
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She never ever told me that she loved me.

She wasn't a loving mum. I found it hard at times. Because my brother used to sit next to her, she’d put her arms around him. But if I went to sit next to her, “Move up, move up, you’re crowding me.” She just didn't seem to have time for me.

Auntie Anne with her brother on her wedding day, Leeds, 1994, From the collection of: The Making of Black Britain
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Auntie Anne (2021)The Making of Black Britain

Auntie Anne discusses her marriages
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He come looking for us, and he had a knife in his hand.

And he went into a room and we had, you know, like beetroot, and brown sauce and things, and pickled onions on the table. And he picked the beetroot up and he smashed it, and beetroot just went everywhere. And then they got up and they went, right quick. Then I was in the kitchen, squeezing a cloth to go clean it up and he just said, “Well, I've started I might as well finish it.”

Auntie Anne with her daughter (1986)The Making of Black Britain

Auntie Anne and her daughter, with Gussie (the cat), and Sherrie (the dog), Leeds, 1986

Auntie Anne (2021)The Making of Black Britain

Auntie Anne talks about her time as a foster parent
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They’re children, and they need love.

She just wanted to love. She wanted you to love her. And when people come to the house, she’d hide behind my legs, she won't talk to them. And I used to get them pretty dresses ‘cause they had nothing. And when they eventually went home to mummy. They had a big suitcase, a big double suitcase full of clothes. (Names redacted for privacy)

Auntie Anne's foster kids and daughter, 1986, From the collection of: The Making of Black Britain
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Auntie Anne's foster kids with her daughter, Christmas, 1986, From the collection of: The Making of Black Britain
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Auntie Anne's foster daughter, 1986, From the collection of: The Making of Black Britain
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Diane and Auntie Anne, after sharing her story for The Making of Black Britain (2021)The Making of Black Britain

Diane and Auntie Anne, after sharing her story for The Making of Black Britain oral history project

Now listen to Lola's story for The Making of Black Britain.

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