大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by CSV/大象传媒 Radio Nottingham on behalf of Sally Hooton with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Born 1939, I do remember my dad building our air raid shelter out of railway sleepers. One dropped on my mum's foot and broke it. It was dark in the shelter and dad sat down on my head! With food shortage I had to share the one egg with my sister - she had the yolk and I always had the white.

I recall the searchlights on Boots Factory at Beeston Rylands. A bomb dropped near us, Leighton Crescent, and the house completely disintegrated.

Regular walks to Wollaton Park where there was a P.O.W camp (Italian or German ??) They used to shake their sheets outside each day.

When the sirens went mother used to put us in the front room, lie us side by side on the floor, lie on top of us and then pull the settee over on top and cover us!!

After V.J Day my dad went to trhe railway station to meet his old pal, 'Slogga', being returned from a Japanese P.O.W camp. He didnt recognise him as he was so ill and emaciated. He died some months later.

When I was 4 years old I wsa admitted to the old Children's Hospital to have my tonsils out. It was horrible and I cried a lot. We werent allowed any visitors. I was in from Wednesday to Saturday. I remember the shutters being put up each night for the blackout.

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