- Contributed by听
- gavinb
- People in story:听
- Ruth Todd
- Location of story:听
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A2389151
- Contributed on:听
- 05 March 2004
I was born in November 1939 in Rowlands Gill, County Durham, two months after the outbreak of World War Two. My earliest memory is of being scared of the sirens, retreating into the cupboard under the stairs and being comforted with a golden syrupy nourishment spooned out of a glass jar by my mother. Father was out on fire watch.
On my fourth birthday our family moved to Fenham in Newcastle for better schooling. The attraction to me was Mr Duncan's corner shop and its display of goodies.
At home one day, I just fancied a Mars Bar. I climbed on a chair and took sixpence out of Mother's purse in her shopping basket on top of the kitchen cabinet, and slipped out of the house. 'Where's your coupon?' asked Mr Duncan. Not to be thwarted, I returned home, climbed up again for the ration book and sped back to the shop, triumphant.
I got my Mars bar, but I should have had the sense to eat it before returning home, for mother had observed all my activity and it was confiscated forthwith!
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