大象传媒

The Bride

When ww2 was declared, the Bride applied to join the Forces but her age group was seconded into factory work. The Bride ended up in "Sound City" (Shepperton Studios) joining the workforce that would help to manufacture Wellington Bomber Aeroplanes. Wearing a Snood or turbaned scarf to keep their hair in place and out of the machinery, in addition to the jumper which went under a pair of dungarees, the group of female workers worked diligently throughout the war. They all knew that THIS was THE machine to win the war, all their endeavours held an element of pride - from the 'doping' procedure to the sewing, and connection of wings. Her brother may have been in the RAF, but his younger sister knew more about the fundamental construction of the Aeroplane.

The Bride's best friend was Betty, and they used to spend any free time cycling around the area discovering new places. One place they were never to find was Virginia Water. Each had a Birthday in June, and Betty's Mother, with careful planning, managed to make a celebration cake out of what ingredients she could get with her ration coupons. They both blew out a candle each and shared the cake. It was the best of times, and the worst of times, many of their fellow workers were killed, and they would risk their lives on Fire Watch duty; and yet they could be uplifted by the music of that time, as they would dance along the aisles between the fuselage of the planes. Jokes were played, once on bending over, the Bride was told what a lovely pair of blue eyes she had - only to realise when she removed her dungarees, that two blue eyes had been painted on the rear area of the dungarees. She had her own back by sewing up the culprits coverall at the arms and legs. The Bride would work with her Aunties on Voluntary Railway Canteens offering cups of tea and sandwiches to the weary Servicemen and those that travelled during those dark days.

Betty married Albert Claydon who served in the Royal Navy during ww2, and they had one daughter, Lesley. [In the 1970's they were due to be reunited for the first time since those days of ww2, and unbeknown to the Bride,arrangements were made for Betty to take her wartime friend on a journey back to the time spent at 'Sound City',to see the places they had explored together; and to visit the new home in Eltham where their daughter and her husband to be were going to set up home,but it was not to be,as plans were made by relatives to take the Bride to Folkestone. Sadly, a year later Betty died, and their precious friendship ended].

The Bride would also work in a small shop that grew to become Budgens, at Staines in Middlesex. Mr Smith was the Manager; special clientele would seek his assistance. She would prefer to serve a person that would empty the contents of their battered purse to eke out the stated payment for the item, rather than be sweetened up by someone in a fur coat who required so many items by such and such a date - and when payment was due, their cheque would bounce.

The Doodlebugs and V1s heralded their arrival, that awful sound that would drone on and on, and then stop, as did the hearts of many, wondering just where and when it would hit. It was a Sunday, when she first experienced a near miss, the Bride had been to Church with her Aunties, and having just entered their home, all Hell broke loose, and the trio as one ducked under the kitchen table, the Aunties only pausing long enough to remove their Sunday best hats, which they placed outside the table area. The deathly silence was as a long deep breath, and then the whole house began to shake with the blast, as they held on to each other. Was this it?

The 'All Clear' was sounded - a short time had elapsed but to that particular group it had seemed like an age. They emerged dusty and bedraggled, from a somewhat shattered but still standing house, only to discover that a Doodlebug had struck a house nearby entering through the roof, and all within were lost.

The Bride managed to send some money home to her parents, various food items would be given to her sister as she visited the family in London. Her niece would cry "Any sauses (sausages) Nanny?", as she would call her Aunt. It was a time when lots of food items were scarce, whilst other essentials were rare to find. The Bride paid for the pre-school education of her niece, before she made up her mind to return home. She knew that her parents were getting older, and were not in good health, and even though not as academic as her siblings,she held honours in common sense, and thought for others.

Once in the South Wales Valleys, she began employment at Thomas & Evans' General Store in the High Street of Ferndale, where she worked as a Shop Assistant alongside Eunice James and Rose Jones, all under the watchful eyes of the Shop Manager, Mr. Jenkins.

Romance came into her life, as she became re-acquainted with her brother in law. Their relationship blossomed this time, and a Wedding was arranged for a June day in 1951.

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