大象传媒

This contribution to People鈥檚 War was received by the Action Desk at 大象传媒 Radio Norfolk and submitted to the website with the permission and on behalf Stella James

My name is Stella and I was born in Bond Street, Maternity Hospital, Leicester. My Dad was a Reservist in the RAF consequently I was a babe in arms when he went to Port Said, Palestine for the duration of World War 2 and I was six years old before I saw him again.

Below is a poem written by my Dad whilst on active service in World War2.

There are many ships in the bay today
Cargoes from near and far
Some are from the New World dear
Some are from where YOU are.
As children at School even then we were dreamers
鈥淲here are you going to 鈥� all you big steamers
Now as I鈥檓 gazing over the bay
I dream of the land that is so far away
Not of the ships 鈥� or where they are bound
My thoughts are now the other way round.

鈥淲here have you come from 鈥� what have you found?
Are our folks happy 鈥� our homes safe and sound?鈥�
You read in our letters how we MISS you so
England now so lovely and clean
What colours there are blended with green,
The brown of the desert 鈥� the blue of the Med
Along the canal the sea turns to red.

Don鈥檛 let us crumble 鈥� or worry or fear
We will trust in GOD for all we hold dear
Now once again I will look over the sea
And pray 鈥渒eep them both happy, safe and free鈥�.
My Mam and I left our home in Thurmaston to stay with my maternal Grandparents in Barsby 鈥� a hamlet between Leicester and Oakham. Mam was a teacher at the village School so my Gran (Mrs Palmer) used to look after me whilst Mam worked and when I was four I went to that same School and Mam was my teacher!
Mam and Gran made peg rugs for bedrooms and firesides out of any old clothes that were past mending, we were OK food wise as we had a big kitchen garden with lots of home grown fruit and veg, as well as chickens, eggs and rabbits too, Grandad was a farmer. Sometimes we made our own butter and next door my Uncles Charlie and Nob made bread for the surrounding villages. If I was really good and sang nursery rhymes to them sometimes they would even make me my own special little loaf.
In 1955 I met my Husband Greg, we married in 1959 and now have 12 Grandchildren and 2 Great Granddaughters. We hope and pray people will accept each other 鈥� no matter what nation, creed or colour and learn respect and compassion. LIVE IN PEACE!

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