大象传媒

I am working for the 大象传媒 Peoples war and I am typing this story on behalf of Audrey Smith War was declared on 3rd September 1939 - 5 days before my 5th birthday. I remember that we had an Anderson shelter in the back garden. My Father kept the butchers shop and because of poor health did not pass his medical but became Chief Warden for our estate.
We shared the shelter, my Mother and I with the Greengrocers wife and 3 sons and the lady from the sweet shop, who always carried a jar of sweets on these occasions.
After the first air raid warning and visit to the shelter things were quiet for a while as we lived about 3 miles from Bradford in Yorkshire. As a child I took dancing lessons and my teacher Mrs. Haigh decided to start an amateur concert party. The girls had short skirts made of blackout material and red blouses and the boys black trousers and red shirts. This was our opening and finale outfit. Other costumes were made from crepe paper in various colours, covered in spangles and looked really good. The bodices were lined with washed muslim which was previously used to cover the meat carcases in my Father' shop. We played to audiences in local village and church halls in an effort to lift the spirits of people coping with war at home.
The biggest occasion I remember was locally known as "The night they bombed Bradford" We spent the night in the shelter and came out next morning to find one bomb crater on the railway line in front of our shop - one crater on the road to the left and one along the Crescent. We went in our "siren suits" over our pyjamas to look at the craters and all the windows were blown out of the shop.
One customer brought a banana for me as his son was in the Merchant Navy. My Father made me share it with two friends.
One day a girl in my class brought in some fresh eggs and we were all given one each to take home.
My friends and I gave concerts in my Fathers garage for the local children. We charged 1/2p for lemonade and 1p for entrance fee and we gave the money to the Red Cross.
We heard about the end of the war in Europe at the end of a concert. A man got on the stage and announced it and all the audience went wild. We had a street party to celebrate.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.