大象传媒

Mrs Elder has confirmed her willingness for her story to be entered on to the People's War website and has agreed to abide by the House Rules.

During the 2nd world war some of my friends and I decided to try and raise some money for the War Effort.

We decided to do a concert in September 1942 and invited our families and neighbours and friends. At the end of the concert a cup of tea and a biscuit was provided and everyone put a donation in a box!!

All our mums, aunties and friends made various clothes for us out of "bits and pieces" and our dresses for the Hawia Dance were made of strips of paper - cut in strips and all were sewn to make individual skirts. The rustling these paper skirts made was lovely, we all giggled.

A little boy (who lived in the same house as me) also joined in our concert in 1942 and read the "Muffin Man" and "Early in the morning".

Everyone enjoyed these concerts, we all came together in our front room and as well as enjoying themselves they all helped the War Effort and encouraged and helped each other.

We had a small stage (some planks of wood to dance on) and we hung a sheet across the front of the stage and other sheets across the corners of the room where we changed our outfits.

We always finished our evening concert with a patriotic song "There'l always be an England" and "V stands for Victory", sung by all.

CONCERTS WERE PERFORMED IN:- AMOUNTS RAISED

21st September 1942 拢- 11. 0d
10th May 1943
(Wanda made a duck & 拢1. 10. 0d
raffled it)
19th September 1944 拢3. 10. 0d

TOTAL 拢5. 11. 0d

I must mention my late dearest mum - who helped us all so much in our singing and dancing - she really was a lovely pianist.

Our ages were from 9 - 13 years and only three of us have met since the war!

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