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We used to go to the school in turns — morning or afternoon.
There was an air raid shelter at school.
At night we had to take our own blankets and go into the crypt in the church when the sirens sounded.

I lived with my mum and dad.
I had 8 sisters and 3 brothers — I was one of the younger ones.

We would add milk to the butter to make it go round.
My mum was a good cook and we had plenty to eat.
I remember queuing in the bitter cold for tripe and we did get some. I wouldn't have any though. It was for my mum and dad and my brothers.

We played skipping games as children and we did have fun.

We had a party in the market place after the war ended. It was lovely and of course we had the lights on then.
I didn't like the blackouts.
We had black material at the windows and we had tape on the windows so the glass wouldn't shatter when the bombs dropped.
You had to have coupons for clothes.

This story was submitted to the People's War Website by Lisa Reeves of CSV Action Desk Leicester on behalf of Veronica Allsopp and has been added with her permission.
The author fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

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