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I was six when the war ended. During that time we were nearly bombed up in London — Walthamsaw, North-East London. We lived in Number 50 Courtney Road, which is part of a big housing estate. Towards the end of the war, a V2 bomb bombed out Numbers 44 and 45. I would say from 60 to 100 the street was absolutely decimated. We were living on 50, and from 60 onwards: nothing. Just like that. I remember the damage, because my mother was complaining: she had lost some of her wedding presents, her glass. In fact in our front room, the shrapnel from whatever was dropped actually cut off the curtains. We were very lucky, as we had an air-raid shelter at the back. Even now, sometimes, if I hear a neutral noise I still jump. I was amazed at the force of these things. At the other end of the street we had an old tree which was about two to three feet across, was picked up like a matchstick and thrown 100 yards down the road.

One of my friends was killed in the blast. If you're at the point where the bomb is dropped, the force actually sucks the air out so that you cannot breathe. And that is what kills you. This was one of my childhood friends, Tom. I remember I felt very very sad and very shocked. It took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that he was not there anymore. The funny part of the story, was that I remember my Dad, who was stationed at Woolidge, walking across the bomb site, at the bus-stop, with not a house in sight, walking along with a rifle over his shoulder. And that's the rifle we have against the mantlepiece now in out front room.

My Dad was in the Royal Army Service Corps. I remember going through his kit-bag and finding chocolate at the bottom. During the war, ofcourse, you could not get sweets. The only thing you got was dark chocolate — but anything was better than nothing. Another thing I remember is the water shortages. We used to have a big bath in front of the fire, and Mum and Dad used to go in the bath first, and the kids went last. I have a very very faint memory of when we evacuated to Norwich, and were put in a big brigadier's estate, and I remember Dad picking me up in a big lorry — I split my elbow on the edge of the lorry. Dad used to wear a forage cap, which was like a hat instead of his head. Us kids, we used to have a laugh, we used to play on the bomb-sites. Very dangerous! We used to walk across the rafters as if they were floorboards. Every time we used to hear a train shuttle we used to jump, because we were scared of thunderstorms, but I think it was because we were scared of the bombs. We were very lucky.

The thing I remember the most about the war is the friendliness of people. We always used to pull together as a team. For example if one person did not have something, you would give it to them. At the end of our street, when the V2 came down, I remember that the Women's Voluntary Service provided a soup kitchen. That was for people who were a lot worse off than we were. Ofcourse at the end of the war we had a big street party. The boys and girls got dressed up as black and white minstrels and were singing, and there was ice-cream and jelly and things we would never even have dreamt of getting. People used to save their rations up.

I remember rationing: one thing my mother used to do when she made a cake, instead of using milk or alcohol so it was moist, she would use tea. And it does the job. I can remember queueing for bread. I must admit, even today, due to the way I was brought up, I do not like to waste anything. I hate to see food wasted because I think we have to realise how lucky we are and were.

I did not see my father properly until I was nearly six. And in fact, my sister who was born in 1944, when she saw my Dad she screamed because she did not recognise him. I still have a Bible that my Dad gave me when he was in the army. I did realise what it was he was doing when he was away, but he would not talk about it. My Mum has kept all his letters. She still has them and she is 89 this year. I remember her being very strong-minded and strong-willed, and she still is today.

All I have to add is to say thank God we survived it.

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