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worked at a place that made Army Boots. I was in the office and made the orders out. We had a voluntary service and I would knit helmets for the troops.
I liked my job.
I went there after working in a jewelry shop for 5 years. I saw the job advertised and went for an interview and got it.
I was there for 12 and a half years.
Everywhere was blacked out — it was terrible.
We used to go to old time dancing. We had to make our own entertainment and would go to each others houses. We'd have a gramophone on.
Because it was so dark you didn't like going out — the air raid wardens were strict.
I met my future husband at old time dancing. We married in 1953 — rationing was still going on.
Food was rationed — you only had so much butter. My mother would make her own butter using the cream off the milk.
I was one of 4 children. Mum was a cook so she could make something out of nothing.
We used to have lots of rabbit stuff and dumplings.
My dad was a fire watcher.
You couldn't buy sweets and chocolate was rationed.

This story was submitted to the People's War Website by Lisa Reeves of CSV Action Desk Leicester on behalf of Phyllis Bell and has been added with her permission.
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