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This story was submitted to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ People’s War site by Wymondham Learning Centre on behalf of the author who fully understand the site's terms and conditions.

In 1941 at the age of 3 I was suspected of having tuberculosis of the lung. I was admitted to Kelling Sanatorium in North Norfolk.

I was an only child, my father was in the forces and I was living in Dereham — a town in mid-Norfolk.

In the hospital we were given lots of nourishing food. I remember mutton stew, rice pudding and of all things beetroot! The nurses were very strict and made us eat everything on our plate.

I was pushed out in my bed on to a veranda. Pine trees surrounded the hospital, which is supposed to be beneficial for T.B.

Visiting was on one weekend a month. My mother had a long journey — Dereham to Norwich — Norwich to Holt — and then she had to walk around 3 miles to the sanatorium.

After several months, it was confirmed that I did not have T.B. but infected tonsils. These were removed at Cromer Hospital and after 9 months away from home, I was discharged.

After all these years I still keep in contact with a sister of one of the boys I met whilst in hospital.

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