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Pat recalls that in the months preceding the war her family began storing food. She grew up in Shildon, Co Durham, and received her secondary education at The Girls County School, Bishop Auckland which later was amalgamated with King James Gramar School.

She remembers boys being evacuated from Gateshead to Bishop Auckland and because of the influx of extra pupils the school days were divided into two parts. In 1940 the evacuated children went to Hawes. Pat recalls that before the 9pm news on the radio the National Anthems of the allied nations were played. She also remembers asking her mother ‘What was the news about before the war, Mum?’ At school the pupils regularly carried out a shelter drill. They always took a rug to the shelter and sat on these whilst being read to by a teacher. Pat said the girls regularly knitted balaclavas, gloves and socks and were told that these items were sent to soldiers in Russia. Pupils were also encouraged to save a few pence each week by investing in the ‘National Savings’ scheme. Pat remembers that during the blackout anyone carrying a torch had to keep it pointing downwards and that men had white paper on their brief cases to attract the attention of the bus drivers.

She recalled that school lunches were 6d (2 ½ p) per day but as a result of the Education Act of 1944 school meals became free to certain disadvantaged pupils. Everybody was involved in the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign and, she says, although food was plain her family never suffered a shortage. Their diet was supplemented by tinned Pilchards (which she hated) and by baking with liquid paraffin. Cod liver oil was also supplied by the Government to children. Pat remembers a Jewish girl, who had escaped from Belgium, at her school and remembers how clever the girl was. She also says that it wasn’t unusual to see Prisoners of war working around Bishop Auckland.

On 18th December 1944 Pat’s brother, Esmond Nicholson, was serving as a Flight Engineer Sergeant in the RAF. The plane he was in on that day was involved in a mid air collision over France and Esmond was killed. He was 23. It was not until 30th April 1945 that the family found out his fate.

On VE Day, 8th May 1945, Pat’s school held a ‘Service of Remembrance’ giving thanks for the end of the war. Pat cried throughout the service. Esmond’s body lies buried in Clichy Cemetery, Paris. Pat went on to become a French teacher at King James School, Bishop Auckland.

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