大象传媒

Betty Sutton
Love at first sight
Betty Sutton (nee Bealing) was aged 27 when the war started. She Joined ARP (first aid) and worked in the Catholic Church which was a nursing home for the wounded.

She remembers Armistice Day 1940 Tisbury which comprised a buffet meal in the streets dancing . She was also a dedicated poppy seller for the Royal British Legion and received a certificate for selling poppies for 60 years.

Cecil Bealing , Betty鈥檚 brother was wounded and lost most of his sight and made two holes in his skull to light in which improved his eyes. Recognised their voices. St Dunstan鈥檚 Hospital for 6 months.

She often took patients for walks around Snowdonia lift. They also enjoyed time dancing and the ladies took the male lead of the wounded servicemen which they loved. Glen Miller music Marlina Dietrick were their favourite singers.

In the Tithe barn in Tisbury dances with old time waltzes were the order of the day and Betty鈥檚 card was always fully booked. Leslie Sutton soon to become Betty鈥檚 husband said the first time they met 鈥渢his is the girl I am going to marry鈥� when he was he was 24 . They married soon after that when he was a lorry driver and special constable for RAF Chilmark. Ammunition depot.

During that time Betty was also working at the Boot Inn in Tisbury which was a makeshift officers Mess. Often she enjoyed a pleasant evening walk with friends starting at Boot Inn then along a footpath to Fonthill Lake then under the caves and back up to the Beckford Arms and along Hindon lane to Tisbury.

The income from the wist drives which the officers played went towards making food parcels for the Wiltshire Troops who were mainly from the Wiltshire Regiment.

TheVE Day street part was a spontaneous event and all the food was provided by the shops and was a great feast which was achieved by the pooling of ration cards. Their own chicken and eggs and pigs. Butter ,Cheese.

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