Turning their back on successful careers in social work teaching and practice, Annette and Bob decided to put their lives where their values were by moving with their family into a converted doctor’s surgery on a council estate in Bath. While Bob engaged in innovative community work as a “resourceful friend", Annette supported the family by working full-time and acting as “coach, receptionist, janitor and a good listener".
Being born in Glasgow, then becoming a Christian and a university student there, Annette Holman returned as an adult to a deprived part of the city, Easterhouse, with her late husband Bob, to undertake community work and live out Christian Socialist principles.
Interview timestamps
0:00 A war baby in Glasgow and Bombing in London 20:58 Regimented male lifestyles, factory workers, and Glasgow holiday fairs 25:16 Holland, Scotland, sweet rationing and secondary education 33:36 Atheists and religious debate: Christianity and conversion 39:21 Learning the alphabet at eleven, and university 50:11 A lady almoner: Meeting Bob and engagement in Russell Square: 59:36 Post-war social work, and impact of the Welfare State 1:08:33 Rivers of Blood: Responding to racism, and entering academic life 1:27:50 Bath University, managerialism, and community work 1:40:03 A Coach, receptionist, janitor, and good listener: moving to Southdown Estate, Bath 1:58:58 Easterhouse Glasgow: Establishing FARE (Family Action in Rogerfield and Easterhouse) 2:14:30 - 2:17:19 The scale of poverty, social problems, and deprivation 2:17:20 Summary of the many established (and continuing) achievements of FARE 2:21:30 Kids at the Door Revisited: The impact of young people from Southdown 2:25:09 Legacy & Christian Socialism, and the Centre for Social Justice 2:34:38 The sustaining power of God for contentment and challenges -- For all things ExtraECC, go to: https://ExtraECC.com Audio versions of these interviews are at: https://soundcloud.com/extraecc Follow us on FB https://www.facebook.com/ExtraECC, and Twitter @ecc_extra