大象传媒

This story has been added to the People's War website by Marie on behalf of Basil Henning with his permission. Basil fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

In 1937 at the age of 18 I was appointed assistant to the Manager of the Southampton Guildhall when it was to open. I failed my medical so was there throughout the war. I am told I am mentioned in 鈥淲ar History of Southampton鈥� for my involvement with emergency feeding (British restaurants etc). I was also spare time Clerk to Capt. Spencer, Adjutant of the Home Guard based at Carlton Drill Hall.

I remember the Guildhall Dance on Saturday 23rd December 鈥� the cashier didn鈥檛 turn up so I sold 53 tickets. Then a shower of incendiaries made the Civic Centre rather conspicuous so we cancelled and had to refund all 53 tickets. A little known fact about that night was that the whole of the Guildhall roof was lifted out of place and unless something has changed in the 27 years I鈥檝e been retired there is a line of daylight the whole length of the roof space on the south side to this day!

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