大象传媒

Early in 1939 our family moved to a new house - 29 Diamond Road, Thornaby. It was a newly built house, inside loo, bathroom, hot water system! After our previous home at 25 Chalk Street, Stockton, it was Buckingham Palace! I was 3 years old being born 6th January 1936. My middle name was after the new king, Edward VIII. My middle name was always the one used, to avoid confusion with my father as I understand it.

Came the war.

We were supplied with an Anderson shelter. To accomodate it, my father, probably with the help of an older brother, dug a huge hole in the very long back garden.

I distinctly remember one day hiding in the hole before the shelter had been erected. My mother kept coming to the back door of the house and calling "Eddie!" "Eddie!" then talking to herself with words like "Where's that little devil got to?" "I'll kill him when I find him!"

Meanwhile , i'm in the hole, had my hand over my mouth to stifle my giggles. My mam eventually found me - I now suspect that she had known where I was all the time! Her threats came to nothing, I was the baby of the family and loved - we all were.

I suspect Diamond Road ws in line with one of the airfield runways. As the war progressed aircraft would fly down the length of Diamond Road. There would be a roar of engines and the aircraft would appear over the top of the french barn, part of the farm at the top of the road, down the road, then off. Perhaps maritime patrols, mostly they were Hudsons.

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