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Everybody had to put up the blackouts every night so that the German bombers couldn’t see any lights showing. We had a frame covered with black cloth for each window. The ARP wardens and the police used to check to make sure there wasn’t even a chink of light.

In the winter, in the blackout, it was really dark – even on the main road. Torch batteries were difficult to find, so a torch was very precious.

It was difficult walking around in the blackout. You were always saying sorry after you bumped into something and then realised it was a lamppost.

We all had to have a gas mask, because people were frightened the Germans might use poison gas. I was always worried I might lose my mask. It was kept in a box, but that was more useful for keeping other things in.

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