大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by the Dunstable At War Team on behalf of the author and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

The first thing I remember about the war in Dunstable, was when the announcement had been made on the radio. My father was just going to work when the air raid siren went, and of course he was late; one of the very few times he was ever late for work. After that nothing happened for a few years.

I lived with my parents in Great Northern Road. We had lodgers from firms that had been evacuated here. One or two came from the new Delco Remi and Hyatt factory that was moved here. It was under the railway bridge in Church Street where McDonalds is now. One of the lodgers, a Mr B had a band called S and B (Staines and Blake) and he used to do quite a lot of dances and play for them. I expect these were at the California Ballroom.

I was 14 when I left school and went to work at the top of what was called Nicholas Way, in an office with my uncle. This was an old blacksmith鈥檚 house that my uncle had taken over and either side of the building there were two yards where dried herbs were kept. Up the road were the drying kilns for the herbs. There were also drying racks. Thyme and Mint were stored here.

Many people came to the yard with herbs to sell. The children used to collect dandelions and other herbs and bring them in; we had several loads during the day. After the herbs had been sold, I collated all the money and then took it to the bank. I used to take it to Barclays bank in a blue bag and didn鈥檛 think anything of it. I wouldn鈥檛 like to do it these days, not all that money.

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