大象传媒

My mother was an avid film fan. She would have taken us to the 'pictures' every night if she could have afforded it, but we went around four times a week. Even more so during the war, as my father was away and there was just her and the then three children, myself and two younger sisters.

But each night we went, sure as heaven a notice would appear on the screen reading, 'There is an air raid in progress, please leave the theatre. The film will continue for the benefit of those patrons who wish to remain behind.'

At first we DID leave the picture house, but somehow we felt cheated, as there was no guarantee we would have our entrance money refunded. So my mother decided that in future we would remain in the hall and see the film through. We did this from then on, despite the warnings on the screen.

But one night the bombing became so heavy we could actually see the artificial chandeliers shaking. At this, my mother grabbed all of us by the hand and, carrying my youngest sister, who was only three, she took us out of the hall and we made our way into our underground shelter.

How she knew I will never know. She said later she had had a premonition. For while we were in the shelter, a bomb landed some 50 yards away, completely demolishing the theatre.

Luckily, everyone else had felt the same danger, so the hall was empty at the time of the blast and no one was injured, although the hall was destroyed.

And the film we had been watching? It was called No Place To Go.

-- Read all Tommy Mac's edited contributions to this website

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