大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Pamela Baldwin od the CSV 大象传媒 Coventry & Warwickshire Action Desk on behalf of Fiona Oates and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

I was born in 1942 in Eversleigh Road, Coventry. Some of my postwar recollections are:

I remember ration books. At the end of the week we would get our books and sixpence to spend on sweets at Parkers shop which was on the corner of Standard Avenue and Timothy Grove. We would buy liquorice wood, pear drops and great big gobstoppers.

I remember mom used to make out a shopping list once a week and take it round to Parkers. Everything would be delivered to the door and when Dad got paid we'd go round and pay for it. Milk was delivered in a churn with measures around it. The milkman would measure into a jug that mom had given him.

I remember the rag and bone man coming round on a horse and cart. If you gave him any old clothes he would give you a tiny fluffy day old chick in exchange. I think some of them gave out goldfish instead of money.

Everywhere in the city centre was derelict. I can remember when Owen Owen was built, and West Orchard market in Corporation Street. The Old Barracks market was down through and arcade by Woolworths.

My Dad was in the Home Guard - he was born in 1901 so didn't serve in the First World War and was too old to serve in the Second. I can remember mom telling me how she was evacuated over Hinckley way early in the war with my brother and sister, but came back to Coventry by the time I was born.

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