大象传媒

I was sixteen at the outbreak of War, and already working on sewing khaki uniforms at a large clothing firm in my native city Leeds.
By late 1940 I was conscripted to a local engineering firm making small components for Naval Ordnance. We worked on a three shift system, I never got used to the night shift, but the work was interesting, using small capstan lathes and fine drills to a precision standard. We weren't told much about the end product except that accuracy was vital, the difference could mean that a dingy woud either inflate or fail.
The camaradarie among the girls and women was really good. In summer the younger ones took advantage of the Women's War Workers Camp at Burley Woodhead. It was run by the Central Council for Physical Recreation. We slept in a large barn on bunk beds, cooked our own food in "billies", hiked and spent the evening in the local pub where my late sister entertained on the piano.
In winter we helped at the YWCA in Leeds, serving tea and joining in table tennis. There was a grand piano and my sister would play. One evening a shy young soldier came in, walked over to the piano and played in true concert style, a really talented pianist. We often wondered what became of him.
The 大象传媒 Leeds Studio was quite near to Blenheim School and my young brother's class was chosen to do an item on "Transatlantic Call, People to People", an exchange programme between Britian and North America. It was Christmas and the topic was the peculiarly British Pantomime. In true panto style they sung, with the help of the Dame "When can I have a banana again? tell me Mother do".
I have often reflected on how things might have been had I not stayed on the "Home Front", but I never ever remember being bored, there was so much to do. We had to be resourceful in so many ways. Keeping up appearances in the home and our dress was very important, not to mention how to make a decent meal from a few ingredients. We knitted and sewed, used parachute material for blouses and underwear, blankets we cut up and made winter coats. We would not be beaten, we even diluted gravy salt to dye our legs when we hadn't any stockings and drew a black line up the back for the seam.
Very good for when we went dancing!
We had a lot to fear, air-raids and the strict black-out. On VE day we attended a big service of thanksgiving in Leeds Town Hall. All creeds were represented on the platform and the hall was packed. The recent revelations from Germany about the Concentration Camps added a particular poignancy in Leeds, and it was an occasion which I will never forget. Remembering friends from my school days who never returned home makes me realise how lucky we are.

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