Fiona, A good insight into the life of Tinkers can be found in two books by Betsy Whyte. The first is "The Yellow on the Broom" Warner Books ISBN 0 7515 0738 5 The second is "Red Rowans and Wild Honey" Birlin ISBN 1 84158 0708 Both are day to day accounts of her life growing up with the "Travelling Folk" in the Thirties and Forties. Hope this helps, Jim C.