Des and Pam Cooke

Track 1: Des Cooke and his wife Pam recall the background to the Cooke family in Kerry. In 1909, Des’s father, Charles, was employed as chauffeur at the Crosbie estate in Ballyheigue, and he later set up a hackney business at 33 Upper Castle Street, Tralee. Des remembers his brother-in-law, Harry Flower, who set up what is now Kerry Motor Works in Tralee. Pam tells the story of how her father-in-law, Charles, was caught up in the Rising while on honeymoon in Dublin. Both Des and Pam recall the death threats sent to Pam’s brother Harry, and to Des’s father Charles during the Civil war, ordering them to leave Ireland for their own safety. Pam still retains these original letters. Track 2: Des reminisces about other motor works in the town of Tralee and the variety of businesses there in earlier days. Pam recalls her involvement with leisure pursuits in the town. And Des recalls his brothers Jack and Roger, who were killed on active service with the RAF during WWII. A third brother, Peter, also in the RAF, survived.