大象传媒

I was 11 when the war started, and we had to leave our home for an internment camp in Peel. There were internment camps all over the island and everyone was looking for somewhere to live.

I remember my Grandmother coming back very stressed as she couldn't find anywhere to live. We were lucky, my Grandmother owned a little MANX cottage (two up and two down) and the couple who were renting off my Grandmother were moving out as they wanted somewhere bigger. It was quite primitive, no bathroom and an outside toilet. So, we moved in there.

I used to go Douglas every week to the public baths and have a lovely soak in the bath!

Nowwe were living in the country (Greeba) I went to help out on a farm to pick potatoes, helped in the harvest - like a land girl in effect (although I was still a schoolgirl). When I left shcool I learned to be a dressmaker so I could learn to make clothes. As soon as I was old enough I trained to be a nurse in Manchester. I stayed there for a year, then came back to Isle of Man and continued my training. I then went to Birmingham and trained in Midwifery.

One thing I remember in Douglas Internment camp, there were some wonderful musicians and used to give concerts on a Sunday night - we could go once a week to see them as the farm had a car with petrol. It was wonderful. There was a well known trio (two violinists and a cellist) who met in the camp but I can't remember their name!

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