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This story was submitted to the People's War site by Pam Vincent of Age Concern Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on behalf of Margaret Vincent and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Wolverhampton had no air raids although a few bombs were jettisoned and the sirens went off if enemy planes were around. On moonlight nights the sirens sounded and we would stand outside and hear the terrifying pulses of German bombing formations going over and realise that they were bound for some target in the north. So we were OK!

Clothes rationing was introduced about the time I left school. My mother must have sacrificed some of her coupons to provide me with clothes. I had a costume made (classic clothing then) at a tailors. She must have spent 18 coupons on this as I think a year’s total was about 50. But I wore it for a couple of years after 1945 so it was well made. Fashion changed very little, perhaps a scarf worn differently.

My mother was a good dressmaker and had always bought dress fabrics in the sales, so there was stock for a new summer dress. And we would cut about and turn two garments into one new one. Garments were dyed frequently as it was inexpensive and changed the look.

Almost everything was in short supply, so we substituted or went without. I never heard anyone grumble. Though at the end of the war whale meat was a no-no. Of course there was a black market to which my parents never subscribed. But workplaces had canteens, British Restaurants were open to all, and no rations required. I imagine a lot of what we ate was pretty plain — perhaps stodgy, but as teenagers we needed filling. It was our mothers who had the hard work of shopping and managing.

Meat was rationed by cost. So cheaper cuts made more meat. We ate an awful lot of brisket. I think most weeks a small amount had to be taken in corned beef. The cheese ration was generally quite good, but as town dwellers we often didn’t see a fresh egg in weeks. Dried egg was available which could be scrambled but did not taste much like real egg.

There was little wrapping paper around. You took your own or a shopping bag. Carrying home sanitary towels was an embarrassment to a young woman with a small shopping bag.

There was a tremendous amount of entertainment. Cinemas everywhere, touring opera and ballet, symphony concerts and recitals. And always dancing. And ITMA on the radio on Thursday nights. On Sunday evening after the 9 pm news there was a short lecture. I can particularly remember J B Priestly. And Winston Churchill really did make us believe that we could win the war.

People took on allotments so that they could grow what was unavailable. Especially tomatoes and strawberries.

I think that theft was very rare, although goods did fall off the back of lorries! But on a personal level a handbag and luggage was never a problem.

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