大象传媒

Being born in July '39, the first years are only what I was told by my parents. Apparently I was put into a cupboard in my Moses basket when the air-raid siren sounded, and then we were herded into the shelter, which was shared with our neighbours.

The war was still ongoing when I started school, and I do remember recieving tins of cocoa, and apples from Canada. All school-children in the U.K. were given these gifts.
My mothers sister lived in Australia, and she used to send us food-parcels, which took 5 weeks to arrive, and the perishables were packed in salt, and has to be steeped in cold water before we could use them.

In school we all had to keep our gas-masks on a shelf, in their boxes. We had them strapped over our shoulder in the yard, and travelling between school and home.

The adults had to go to the 'food-office' where the ration books and clothing coupons were distributed.
In Gateshead it was where the Swallow Hotel is situated now.

No young people knew what Bananas were, and when we did get to taste them, there were a tremendous amount of kids SPAT THEM OUT !

As related to Steve Lamb - Gateshead Council @ Blaydon

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