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My family came to live in Blandford in 1940 from the Wimborne area. We lived above the ‘New Inn’ pub in East Street, which my father ran.

I was 17 years old when World War Two broke out. I worked for Blandford Forum Borough Council finding billets for evacuees. I was very busy as I was also a volunteer at the British Restaurant in West Street, which provided cheap meals — breakfast and lunch- for local people. Workmen from the Tarrant Rushton Airfield stayed at the Restaurant as well. I walked to work and always carried a gas mask.

In the evenings, I worked behind the bar at the New Inn. I remember soldiers coming in as they passed through the town after Dunkirk. I heard many stories about their experiences. Sometimes when there were shortages, we had to ration cigarettes and beer from the local brewer, Hall and Woodhouse. Customers were very good and accepted this. German planes often passed over the town and a bomb hit the Crown Hotel.

There were very popular dances in the Corn Exchange, but I could not go very often as I only had one night off every week. There were also two cinemas in the town at that time.

Families were evacuated to Blandford from London. I remember one woman who tried to cook a rasher of bacon on an iron as they had no access to a cooker. Some families stayed on in the town after the war.

I married a soldier from Shropshire during the war. He was based at Langton House and I met him over the bar, whilst serving at the New Inn. I chose to have a cornflower blue rather than a white dress so I could wear it again afterwards. I saved coupons and cash to buy it. We honeymooned at my husband’s sister house in Lancaster.

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