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I was born in 1915 in Newmarket, the eldest child of four, I was always teased because I was so small, everyone thought I should have become a jockey. I left school at 16 and became an apprentice at a pharmacy (my father had heard of the vacancy when he was in the barbers having his hair cut). I was excused being called up because I was in a reserved occupation and was the only pharmacist in the Kings Lynn area. I later volunteered for the Air Force and trained with ATC boys, we all passed and went onto other units. It was quickly realised that I could not master morse signalling and that as I was a pharmacist it was a waste putting me in that job. I was re-mustered to a medical grade and sent to a hospital in Birmingham.

I was also a pianist and myself, a young boy who was a drummer and a violinist formed a dance band trio. We were quite a success, the young drummer had a speech impediment and used to make me laugh. He would say ‘now then b--------Bernard, why don’t you keep t t t t t t time’!!

I was later posted as a nursing orderly to an Army hospital in Devon /Cornwall.

I became friendly with a pharmacist who had a Pharmacy in Walton, next to Felixstowe and I eventually took over the shop. I spent many happy years there and still live in the area.

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