大象传媒

I was the youngest of seven children in my family. We returned home from holiday around the Christmas of 1940. We used to go backwards and forwards to the Church of England School in Barking. At this time I was aged 11 and left school when I was 14.

The War was more frightning than anything else for me. I was with one of my Brothers and sisters when we were evacuated, but returned home shortly after we left to take our chances.

I used to be looking after the babies at the School until I left education. We used to run to the Anderson Shelter in the back garden on regular occassions. Our house backed onto the local Fire Station too.

We also lived near a park and some spare bits of land. There were plenty of Barrage Balloons near the park and they would get caught up and catch fire!

During the Second World War I worked in a near-by rubber factory until after the War ended. We used to save our rationing coupons for clothes although Bread wasn't one of the items to be rationed until after 1945. The local Air Force used to train near our School playground and myself and other students would sing and dance along with them.

The six years became a routine that we just had to get on with. Going to the shelter and spending the night there became part of our life.

I remember enjoying listening to Winston Churchill's speeches, these kept us going. We listened so much that we knew all the 大象传媒 Radio Broadcaster names! We also enjoyed the music of Vera Lynn who used to live near Barking when War first broke out in 1939.

During VE Day everyone got involved with the street parties that took place. There were many long tables going down the street with bands playing and I remember the streets were blocked off for the party too.

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