大象传媒

It was the week of the Norwich Blitz when it all happened! I was terrified and 11 years old.My sister was just over 1year old, so knew nothing really. Bombs and incendieries rained down all night, the sky was red with the reflection of the flames! Everything was such a muddle and Dad in the army, so Mum was in charge. She always knew what to do. We sang all kinds of songs while she sat on a wooden step Dad had made to help us get out of our Anderson shelter, holding on to a roll of string with the end tied to a hook on the inside of the wooden door. Dad had done all he could to keep us safe! He was a cabinet maker but had been making bomb boxes - he called them - at Bolton & Pauls, Riverside Road, before going into the forces.He had made and fixed in the shelter a wooden floor, a bench and bunkbeds; these were fixed to the iron girders. The string bit deep into Mums 4 fingers, but she never winced.They went sceptic later but soon got better. In the morning Mum and I walked down our garden in Nelson Street and out into Northumberland Street where The Little John pub was to find it burnt to the ground! Gt Aunt Ethel was just getting out of her shelterbut to our horror, stuck half way under the base was a LIVE BOMB! Wardens were everywhere so Mum fetched one and we all left taking Gt Aunt Ethel and cousin Charlie with us. The bomb disposal were fetched we believe.Aunty was so upset seeing she had lost everything!Much later Mum and Aunty returned to the debris and together they looked for the safe.Aunt Ethel was very anxious to see what was inside. All the cash had melted into each other and the notes were a roll of ash!They took the very small metal safe to the bank where they weighed all the melted cash, then to Mums amazement, the notes.Gt Aunt Ethel was given ready money to equal the weight, but we don't believe she was paid the full amount that was in there!
We all went to live with Gt Aunt Alice in Strumshaw and often used to watch Norwich ablaze from the garden! How relieved we were to be 10 miles away, but soon I was to go and live with my Mums sister in Church Stretton, Shropshire. My life changed rapidly - she had been a Nursing Matron!

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