98 Lovell Road

History of 98 Lovell Road

1939

Leonard Hoskison, b 1907, University Library Servant

Joan [née Cable], b 1913

? [Jane b 1935 d 2010]

? [daughter]

In 1986 Jane Barham née Hoskison wrote a collection of stories about her family, ‘Backstairs Cambridge‘. She describes how her father Leonard had worked at the New Theatre after he left school and had worked his way up from Chocolate Boy to cashier. But the economic crisis at the beginning of the 1930s made saving money difficult and he looked for another job. It was then that he got a job working on the building of the new University Library. Len and Joan were able to get married and they lived on 38s 5d a week. The deposit on their house had been £45.

Leonard continued to work at the library but when war broke put he was trained to use a teleprinter in the Royal Corps of Signals. After the war he returned to the library but then managed to get a better paid job at the Zoology Museum and laboratory in Downing Street. He was also given the opportunity to take school parties around the museum. In 1965 he was given a certificate by the university in recognition of his 31 years service.

In 1944 the youngest daughter started school and Joan had spare time. So she got a job as a cleaner at Selwyn College; she was responsible for the Senior Combination room.

In the early 1950s Leonard and Joan moved to 23 Grange Road where Joan was appointed as Hostel keeper for Selwyn College.

In 1911 Leonard was living at 1 Adam and Eve Row. He had married Joan Cable in 1934 in Cambridge.

Joan’s parents in 1911 were living at 9 Sturton Street.