大象传媒

During the early years of the war when I was about five my family took me to the sea side. I had seen pictures of golden beaches so was quite excited. We went to Blackpool by train as my father got concessionary train travel. Many of the people were in uniform, probably on leave. My father left my mother and I at the station whilst he found us some accommodation for a couple of nights. It was a little frightening being amongst the crowds, but my father eventually found a nice boarding house where the young women made us very welcome with a hot drink and 'high tea'. The other guests were a young couple, a sailor and his wife who had left their baby with the grandparents. They won a huge soft toy on the amusements so were delighted with their prize.

Next morning we set off for the sea front, but what a disappointment to me - it was covered in barbed wire rolls and other sea defences. As it was windy and cold, we went into the Tower Ballroom which was magical - the lights and the music, plus dancing to the Tower Organ.

During the summer of 1943 we stayed in Derbyshire with my aunt and uncle for a holiday. My aunt looked after my baby brother whilst my parents took me out for days on local buses. This was a real treat in wartime. We visited Matlock and Matlock bath, and we met some people who were spending their honeymoon there. After a pleasant day, we were waiting for the bus to return, when a family joined us in the queue and showed us a book they had bought in a nearby shop. There were few books available at the time and these Derbyshire guides had just come into the shop. My father thought it would be useful for me at school so quickly got a copy; I still have the book as a reminder of that day.

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Keith Ruffles of the CSV Action Desk on behalf of Shirley Padley and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

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