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This story was submitted to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ People’s War Site by Gwyneth Jones, volunteer at Age Concern Ceredigion on behalf of AUTHOR Annie Francis Mathias and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

I worked with the ARP — Army rescue.

We were in tents and took it in turns to watch for doodle bugs at marble Arch. My parents were caretakers for dentist in Gloucester Place. Queen used to ride past. I used to curtsey.

In Bournemouth, at the end of war, my friend’s husband was in the army. He said he’d make my wedding cake. My husband to be, William Edward Vernon Mathias, was home from the war after being held prisoner for 5 yrs. I walked Boscombe to Bournemouth trying to get fruit for cake. I even went to Christchurch. I lived in Polkestone and worked in local post office — Mr Hedgecombe was my boss.

I made my own dress for wedding. At Landsdown, just outside Bournemouth, a shop had a short veil, so I bought that. The flower shop around the corner made a spray of flowers and I got married at St James Church, Polkesdown. We had to get a special license to get married — had to see the Bishop in Southbourne. The church didn’t have a vicar. They borrowed vicars from other churches.

Living in London during the war — I went to palladium one day and there were bombs flying around. I went to Piccadilly to see a film and there was an air raid.

I met Vernon my husband when he was working in John Lewis, Oxford street and he was a volunteer with the Queen’s Rifles, Territorial army. I was working for a doctor and saw him going by on a bike and side-car. Sometimes he had his office with him Capt Morgan. Vernon asked me out and as he couldn’t have Xmas day off we arranged to meet at a café by the river and ate Xmas dinner there. The next morning the door bell rang. It was Vernon — he surprised me. I then had to invite him in and introduce him to my mother who thankfully asked him to stay for dinner.

During the war in Bournemouth, we couldn’t go on the beach. There was wire netting to stop people. Some roads were closed.

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