大象传媒

My sister worked at a local hotel and, as such, met many of the aircrews from Silverstone. Soon our house became a home from home with pilots, navigators and gunners dropping in for a cup of tea or just to chill out. I suppose it was a touch of home for many far away from their own.

What a crowd they were! The house was always full of laughter and fun. I remember 'Bunny' who had worked as a hairdresser at Elstree Studios who would wash our hair over the stone sink, put a dollop of Amami setting lotion and, with hairpins and crimpers clamped to waves, sit us out on the lawn to dry or have us crouched down in front of the fire, with scorched cheeks, until we were dry. It made a change from being a rear gunner!

Then there was 'Joe' an East-End Wide boy. His pastime was nicking bicycles, recycling them and going back into the mess to sell them to the unsuspecting chaps who had 'lost' theirs! As Silverstone had little in the way of a public bus service a bike was the only way to get off camp! My bike was called 'Annie' and was a sit-up-and-beg type.

Then there was 'Uncle Mac' we had heard on Children's Hour, now in uniform. And they lived for the moment as if there was no tomorrow.

As dusk approached, we would hear the bombers going out to their raids on Germany and would rush out into the garden to count them as they flew overhead.

In the early hours of the morning we would hear the tired sound of the engines approaching and would rush to the window to count them back. As they passed overhead, our friends would waggle their wings in greeting.

Later, we would notice that this lad or that was not in the company but no one said anything. It was as if they lived on borrowed time and for that moment.

A few months ago, I fell asleep while the film 'Dambusters' came on the television. I woke with my heart fluttering and a strange feeling in my chest I could not explain. I then realised that the sound of the Lancaster engines had revived that old feeling of those dawn returns and the wondering of who was coming back. It was a strange and poignant feeling.

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