大象传媒

1939-1941
I was 16 when the war broke out, and experienced the blitz, with my older sister Lil and younger brother Bill, who was later to join the Royal Navy. The younger children (Violet, Esther and Jean) were evacuated to Wales, my mother went to Blackpool to give birth to the youngest of the family David. My father, a veteran of the First World War, stayed at home with us, working for Tate and Lyle. During the bombing while the rest of family took refuge in the air-raid shelter, my Dad insisted on singing and playing patriotic songs on the piano, we had visions of him flying out of the window still at the piano, if the house had suffered a direct hit, fortunately it didn't! And Bless Him he continued playing until the end of the war.

1941-1943
Having gained experience of catering work since leaving school, I decided to apply to join the NAAFI, I was accepted and posted to Chester.

1943-1945
Aged 20. I volunteered for services overseas. After various interviews I joined the ATS and was posted to Sterling for training, 2 months later I found myself on a Union Castle ship sailing out of London to Italy. My final destination was to be Florence, where I took up my new position in the Robinson Club, 10 miles from the front line. Here I met many allied service men on R and R from the fighting, and by chance one of them was my cousin Jimmy. Our parents knew we were both in Italy and were delighted at our meeting up, an it was reported in the Liverpool Echo.
Because the club was staffed by mainly Italian girls, I was often told by the troops how well I spoke English, many of them were surprised when I told them that I did in fact come from Liverpool! It was while working at the club that I was to meet my future husband Raymond, who was serving with the RASC. We got engaged and agreed to be married 24th September 1945 in Florence and I was given away by my officer Captain Crawford. We spent our honeymoon in Rome on special leave.
Because we had spent VE and VJ day in Italy, when I brought my new husband home to meet his new family at Christmas my parents put on a special victory party for me and my brother, who was also away for the main celebrations.
Fortunately all the people I have mentioned were to survive the war, and 50 years later at my husband's insistence, I sent for, and received my medals in time for the 50th anniversary of VE day.

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