- Contributed by听
- AgeConcernShropshire
- People in story:听
- Kenneth LARBEY
- Location of story:听
- Surbiton, Surrey
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A7982517
- Contributed on:听
- 22 December 2005
At this time I was one of the young men and women working in the laboratory at the Andre Rubber Co. on the Kingston By-Pass in Surbiton, Surrey. We worked a three shift system so that some of us were free in the mornings or afternoons according to our shift.
Someone had the notion that we might play tennis in our spare moments. So, we set about finding what equipment was available. Most of the girls and one or two of the lads had raquets left over from school days. I did not have one but bought a good second-hand one for 10/- (Note:- Salary 35/- per week!). We also raised a few balls similarly left over from earlier days. There were Municipal Tennis Courts about 10 minutes walk from the factory so that was not a problem.
We investigated getting more balls but found that they were only available to registered tennis clubs. So, the "Tennis Section of the Andre Rubber Sports and Social Club" was formed. The Sports and Social Club was non-existant at this time but it got us six very inferior tennis balls a year!
Now we were all set up to enjoy our tennis but it was not without its problems. If one played in the morning one took a long broom from the factory to sweep the anti-aircraft shrapnel, from the previous night's raid, off the court before it cut our precious balls and shoes to pieces.
Playing was not without its interruptions, for, on two occassions passing German aircraft fired in our direction fortunately with only minor damage to our dignity!!
We carried on playing for a year or more but changes in our reponsibilities meant that we no longer had the time or opportunity, but it was good while it lasted.
Note 1: For more stories from Ken Larbey
see:
* A7982517 - People's War June 1944 ("Did we shoot it down?")
* A8104989 - People's War Winter 1940-41 ("Leave the Train, there's a Bomb ahead!")
Note 2: My wife's story "My First Day as a Wartime Nurse" can be found at A3959076.
Story: This story has been submitted to
the People's War site by Muriel Palmer (volunteer) Age Concern Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on behalf of Kenneth Larbey (author) and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.
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