´óÏó´«Ã½

"This story was submitted to the People's War site by the Barnsley Archives and Local Studies Department on behalf of Vera Ridyard and has been added to the site with his/her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions."
I was a child in the war, 8 years old, and I lived at Goldthorpe. My dad’s brother was killed in the army; dad never spoke a lot about him. I can remember my sister saying that they’d got a telegram saying he was missing presumed killed. My dad was really upset.

I can remember the blackouts and bombing over Sheffield. We had brick shelters outside in the street. In the house we used to go under the ‘cold slab’ under the stairs in the pantry. I know my parents were very apprehensive.

My dad was a miner; he worked at Barnborough Pit, Goldthorpe. Mum was a housewife. I have four sisters and one brother Kathleen, Margaret, Letty, Annie and Jack. Mum was a good mum. On Sundays she did dinner, we all had it together, dad cutting the meat. Then she used to start baking bread, cakes, tarts, the table was full. It was marvellous.

We played skipping, rounders, elevio, and hopscotch. They didn’t cost any money.

We had a gramophone in our best room.

Dad used to cobble our shoes when he got home from the pit.

My mum and dad were called Sarah and John William ‘Jack’ Parkin.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.