大象传媒

DISCLAIMER:
This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Phil Sealey of the Somerset County Museum Team on behalf of Jean Hole, nee Watts, and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions

鈥淢y wartime memories are not very different from any other child growing up in Taunton in the forties except in one regard.
My family, mother, father, brother and sister lived in Draycott Avenue and afterwards in George Street, Taunton. As children, we went to St Andrew鈥檚 School, and I later went to Bishop Fox鈥檚, carrying our gas masks. Food was rationed but the garden was full of vegetables, criss-crossed tape protected the windows and sand bags were stacked outside. Inside our dining table was a Morrison shelter (fun for games) and black out curtains covered every window.
Were I can claim some difference was at the very end of the war. By this time we were living in 1a George Street and to celebrate the end of the war the adults arranged a street party. Tables were set up in the centre of the street and laden with cakes and sandwiches. I found myself sitting next to an imposing figure, the guest of honour, the Mayor of Taunton, Councillor C.H.Goodland. At that time I wasn鈥檛 well versed in who or what a mayor was or did but I did note that he was wearing a rather splendid gold chain on his shoulders. What would my family and the neighbours have said if they had known that exactly fifty years later (1995) I would be wearing that gold chain as Mayor of Taunton Deane. Unfortunately, my parents died before this happened but my brother and sister recognised the honour that had been bestowed on me. I was able to experience first hand what a mayor did! Councillor Goodland served as mayor throughout the war. During my period as a councillor mayors served for one very busy year.鈥�

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