大象传媒

I was one of a family of nine, born in Islington, N. London in 1923. During the phoney war we were evacuated to Hitwick, Beds. but one of my oldest brothers was evacuated to Norfolk and later became a Bevin Boy.

My parents stayed in London with the youngest children but they eventually came downto Flitwick as well (When we were given a house in Brogborough). My father was offered jobs in farming and at the Brick-works. Having no experience of farming he opted for the brick-works at Ridgemont.

At 19 I was offered through the labour exchange at Ampthill into munitions, the land army and the brick-works. So that I could stay at home, I went to the brick-works at Redgemont as well. I knew nothing about making bricks- it was dirty, noisy and cold. The first day I went in dressed up thinking I was going into an office, but then I found I was working in the kilns. I had to go to the ambulance room each morning to have my wrists strapped because of the weight of the brricks, but I soon go used to it. I took the "green" bricks out the presses and put 60 into a barrow, which the "setters" then stached in the kilns. I was there right to the end of the war and made many friends, some of whome I still know. My fater and I were there until VJ Day and then went back to the east end of London. There was a works canteen but it was very primative and we lived close enough to go home. We had a woking meus elab at lobgborough which provided plenty of entertainment but one of my friends parents obtained a tandom bycicle. We spent the summers exploring round Bletchely, Wobur etc. particulary the dance halls. We came to Bedford to the Corn exchange and Dudney & Johnsons dancehalls to hear Glen Millersorchestra.

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