大象传媒

WWII HISTORY - DAY NURSERIES

Day Nurseries were an important facility during the War. Mothers of young children became indispensable in armament, equipment and engineering factories throughout Britain. To be able to make their vital contribution to the defeat of tyranny the women workers needed someone to look after their young children. A secure place of refuge. The Day Nurseries provided that place and that team of dedicated carers. But within a very short time these places became very much more and their name quietly changed to Nursery Schools. Memory is misty and unclear in many ways but I know the mothers made a contribution. Possibly as low as 2 pence per week (less than 1 p) per child or maybe as much as 2 pence per day per child. The stalwart supporters of the scheme were local Methodist Churches, their ministers and congregations. By far the majority of the premises were in their churches - very often, for safety reasons (there were day time air raids and bombing) in the basement.

My mother was part of a team making it all happen in the town of Bedford, 50 miles North of London. Surrounded by airfields and with many engineering factories such as Igranic, Robertsons and Hobkirks, Bedford did suffer some bombing. But it was deemed much safer that London and many families moved in - usually without Dad who was in the forces. The 大象传媒 also moved in to Bedford together with their orchestras and even Glenn Miller.

Subtler responsibilities fell upon my mother's shoulders. With her enthusiastic team of young women, some of them refugees from Nazi persecution, she found herself offering comfort to some very young widows.

Even a small boy of 8 took part. My little wind-up gramophone fascinated the children in my mother's care. Slotting into school holidays and lunchtimes I lowered the sound-box needle to let the children hear Henry Hall's band play The Teddy Bears Picnic, Mabel Constandurous reciting an episode in the life of Grandma Buggins and her family and the sound of Mendelssohn's orchestral waves crashing into Fingal's Cave. Between us my mother and I had quite a collection and the children may well have enjoyed Madame Butterfly, In the Mood and Sandy Powell for the first time. I liked being a disk jockey and I hope I amused them.

Some pictures are attached to this short account. Perhaps they may awaken a memory - - - - - ?

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