大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Lin Freeman of Radio Derby CSV on behalf of Mrs Hetty Ward and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

When there was an air raid, people from Bourne St and Hill St went underneath into the cellars of The Colliseum Cinema on the main London Road. It was warm and there were benches to lie on. The mums used to take their knitting so it became almost a social occasion. We used to stay there with the air raid wardens, and the cinema caretakers always made sure it was warm.
We were joined by the people watching the films as it was a very big cellar.
Everyone checked to see if their neighbours were there and if they were missing, the wardens would go and look for them.
Children were so comfortable, having taken their blankets, they would go to sleep.
I can remember getting home one night, as my mum told me, carried on an air raid warden's shoulder because I was still asleep.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.