大象传媒

Joan Buse told her story to Helen Kemp (CSV Volunteer for Thanet Libraries) at the Fairfield Manor Nursing Home in Westgate-on-Sea, Kent.

I worked as a postwoman for Key Street Post Office near Sittingbourne. I only worked mornings as I also helped my father with our milk round. My grandfather owned the business. When I helped with the milk deliveries we used to carry the milk in urns as well as bottles. Some people would come to the door with a jug which we would fill.

I also did domestic work for Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Brotherton. I really enjoyed it.

During the war we were lucky, we never saw a lot of bombing but we always checked to see if our neighbours were okay during air raids. We all looked after one another. We used to grow a lot of our own vegetables, beans, carrots and potatoes. We also grew sweet peas. I became a vegetarian when I was 15 after I saw a cow in a field being chased. I knew it was going to the butchers. It upset me very much and I never ate meat again. We kept our own chickens and mother made all her own jams and cooked wonderful food like steamed puddings and apple pies. Everything was cooked on the kitchen range which had the fire at one end and the big oven at the other. We never had any gas then.

I was one of five children and my youngest brother was called up at 18. He went to Arnhem Bridge and was killed with most of his regiment. It was his first and last mission. Only about 5 of the regiment returned. I had another brother who served in the Irish Guards.

My husband Harold was an agricultural worker and a special constable. To save me being called up we got a special wedding licence and married quickly.

I enjoyed being in the country. I remember once two cows getting out of their field and a couple of policemen trying ever so hard to get them back but with no luck. My sister knew all the cows and they knew her so she went out of our back gate where the cows had roamed to, called their names and they followed her back to the field. If she went out in the evenings she would always come back home through the field. She used to say 鈥渘o one will hurt me with them as protection鈥�.

I had a good life and always stayed cheerful. My husband was the most wonderful man but sadly died very suddenly when I was in my 40s. But we had 20 wonderful years together with never a cross word. I am still enjoying every day and like to sing and recite poetry that I wrote many years ago.

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