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I remember:
Searchlight batteries manned by the ATS. Their headquarters was at Offley, near Hitchin, Herts. The three Hitchin batteries I knew were at Bedford Road, Chapel Foot on the London Road, and Whitwell.
On the Hitchin to Hexton Road a sheep’s skeleton was found by the ATS girls and they named their site Hangman’s Hollow. Sergeant Maureen Sagriff was the sergeant in charge there. She was a very good soprano and sang at many shows my father put on.

I remember:
My father put on shows at RAF Henlow and RAF Cardington. At Henlow, the Little Theatre actors were Gaby Hamilton, Arthur Howard, Alfred Marks. In the Old Time Music Hall were Frank Muir and Alfred Marks. David Aylott’s father was at Elstree studios and lent scenery. Variety shows had David Lodge and his side-kick Duggie Gordon.
At Cardington we had Reg Dixon. Ann Shelton, Jean Kent, Nat Jackley, Jewel and Warris, Semprini.
In the cinemas in Hitchin — the Hermitage and the Regal — dad put on shows to raise funds for Salute The Soldier Week, and other events like that. Harry Hemsley (Winnie and Horace), Ronnie Renaldi, Peter Sinclair, Sandy Powell. There was the WRAF Gang Show, Phyllis Nelson Terry, Peter Brough and Archie.

I remember:
Many large houses in the area were used as convalescent hospitals — St Paul’s Walden Bury (the Bowes Lyons estate), Old Warden (the Shuttleworth Collection place) Ickwell Bury, and Luton Hoo.

I remember:
One Saturday night returning from Letchworth to Hitchin — in the sky towards London was an enormous glow which I found out the following morning was the docks on fire. My evacuee friend’s mother came down from London (Highbury) and she said she could read a newspaper by the light of the fires from the docks.

I remember:
At Hitchwood, soldiers were under canvas getting ready for D Day. My father took shows there. Norman Tompkin, a local Xylophone player lost a wheel off his xylophone in the mud and it was never found!

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