P: I am in Fort Myers [Florida] interviewing Alan James Robertson, and we are going
 to do an oral history now. This is Sam Proctor and this is May 19, 1994. Alan, let
 me start off by asking you the address and the name of the office that we are in now.

R: We are in the office of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation which is on
 West First Street in downtown Fort Myers.

P: Alan, where were you born?

R: I was born in Barrow-in-Furness in England in 1921.

P: And what was the specific date of your birth in 1921?

R: September 17.

P: So you are now approaching?

R: Seventy-three.

P: Congratulations. You have almost caught up with me. How did it happen that you
 were living in England? Was this home for your parents?

R: Yes. My mother was English. My father was a Scot who came to Barrow-in-
 Furness and met my mother, and they married. I was born at an address, 27 Storey
 Square. I love these British addresses. 27 Storey Square, Barrow-in-Furness,
 Lancashire, England.

P: I love that. What was your father's name?

R: James Bolton Robertson. That was a family name somewhere.

P: And what about your mother's name?

R: Her name was Elizabeth Gertrude Kirkham Robertson.

P: Now how did it happen that your father came from Scotland seeking your mother?

R: I do not understand a great deal about education over there. My father was not able
 to go to one of the "public" schools, so he got some kind of technical training. I
 know he often talked about how long he served his apprenticeship to be a master
 machinist. He went to Barrow-in-Furness because apparently there was some major
 shipbuilding close by there, although I am not really sure. I think Barrow-in Furness
 was close to the Irish seacoast.

P: Where did he come from in Scotland?

R: A town called Johnstone.

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