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Betty Batchelor

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Forenames(s): Betty
Family name: Batchelor
Interview no: 56
Interview date(s): 22 August 1988
Interviewer(s): Sid Cole
Production Media: audio
Duration (mins): 27

 

  • Born: Rhonda, 1908. historyproject.org.uk

  • Married: To Bert Batchelor (spelt “Bachelor” in some transcripts). He was a union official. historyproject.org.uk

  • They had six children:

    1. Michael (born 1930) — film editor, worked at Pinewood; later worked for Rediffusion and then ITN, rising to executive general manager. historyproject.org.uk

    2. Su / Susannah (born 1932) — teacher in Northampton. historyproject.org.uk

    3. Peter (born 1934) — engineer for the electricity board; not in film business. historyproject.org.uk

    4. David — sound recordist; became freelance after working for various TV companies. historyproject.org.uk

    5. Helen — started at Rediffusion at 18, later researcher, then head of research at London Weekend. historyproject.org.uk

    6. Robert — cameraman; worked up through rank; freelance later; was cameraman on the two royal weddings. historyproject.org.uk

Involvement in Trade Union / Film & Production Industry

  • Bert Batchelor (her husband) was very active in the Electrical Trades Union (ETU). He started off working as electrician/trainee and became convenor at Denham Studios. historyproject.org.uk

  • One of his achievements was organising that workers — those between films — should be paid during the downtime. Before that, workers were laid off between films. Bert helped bring about an agreement to change that. historyproject.org.uk

  • Bert later held a national officer position in ETU; he was deeply engaged in labour relations and union negotiations within film and TV trade unions. historyproject.org.uk

Personal & Social / Political Background

  • Betty left school at age 13. She later married Bert in August 1929. historyproject.org.uk

  • She came to live in London in November 1908 as an infant. historyproject.org.uk

  • She described herself becoming a socialist like her husband, got involved in local political activity (local party) and supported the union/party values. historyproject.org.uk

Later Life

  • When Bert retired, they moved to Glebelands (a cottage provided via an offer by Sidney Bernstein) where Betty was living at least from 1988. historyproject.org.uk

  • She reflected in the 1988 interview on how the early working conditions at studios like Denham were poor, and how her husband’s union work brought improvements. historyproject.org.uk

 

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