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Some memories are vague such as how often we sought shelter, how much food we had etc. But some other events are as clear as yesterday:

My brother and sister (twins) were born in 1939 and because of concerns for their safety we must have had one of the first Morrison shelters ever.

Watching my father limping down the road coming back from working at Crittalls in Witham which had been attacked by a German plane while he was repairing the roof from a previous attack.

Getting into lorries taking sand from local pits at Silver End driven by Irish drivers who drove as fast they could. The engines would scream and I can still remember the smell and the heat of them as they raced along the narrow lanes to deliver their loads to the runways that were being built.

Watching what appeared to be thousands of troops around Silver End Hotel passing pints of beer through windows to those outside.

Waking up to the excessive roar of planes taking off, staying at my bedroom window to watch the amazing sight of these 4 engined Stirling planes towing Horsa gliders very close to the roof tops — they seemed to be endless and then, absolute silence.

Going from taking shelter when the Doodlebugs came over, to all standing on the front door steps to watch them, knowing that if the engine stopped it would glide further on to somewhere else.

Pea picking with my mother and watching the dogfights and vapour trails they were making in the sky.

Three of us boys standing outside the American canteen door and being invited in. A large tin of minced fruit was opened and shared between us. It was the sweetest thing I had ever tasted

Catching a rabbit during harvest behind the tractor (someone else broke its neck for me) and seeing the delight on my mother’s face when I gave it to her.

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