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Denise was French and worked in the office at Ransomes and Rapiers in Ipswich. When France was overrun by Germany Denise was told that as she had not been nautralised, she lost her job (she stood the chance of being interned).

The wedding to John was quickly arranged for September 14th 1940. Denise’s mother made two bridesmaids dresses, myself being one of the bridesmaids. The church was St Pancras, Orwell Place, Ipswich.

The day was overcast, the service Catholic. The wedding took place and we all went to the forecourt of the church for photographs. Suddenly without warning we heard an aircraft and bombs being dropped.

We all ran back into the church. A sneak plane had dropped a stick of bombs starting at Back Hamlet — the side wall of the park, Alexandra Park was hit, then Fore Street then on to St Margarets Green. This bomb was an Oil Bomb and another wedding was happening there.

When we got over the shock, we proceeded to the brides house and got on with the reception. It was the first time I had tasted champagne. I was 19 years old.

The war was exciting, frightening, and made you responsible for your own survival. You kept rabbits to kill and eat. You had to walk or cycle. You obeyed the rules when you were called up or else!

No thought of calories or fat or cholesterol, and no squeamishness.

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