大象传媒

The following reminiscences were taken from ladies and gentlemen who meet weekly at the Smallthorne Cricket Club in Stoke-on-Trent.

Many of the ladies spoke of the unusual jobs that they took on during the war years. Mirian gave the example of being a plumber, others spoke of being bus conductors and welders.
One lady remembers bullet making at Radway Green. On one occasion she took home a mis-shaped bullet punch and her father managed to reshape the cast so she could carry on with her work. Days were long, working from 7am to 7pm. There was a general feeling that everyone was there to help each other.
One family came from Yorkshire to work at Swynnerton factory.
Elsie was a Bevan Girl at 19 and worked in the Beven Huts at Bradeley. Men came from all over the country to work in the mines at Norton, Sneyd, Chatterley Whitfield, Hanley Deep pit. Some stayed with local families - after the war many stayed on in the area.
We read stories from contributors to the Peoples war web site on the topic of love and we heard stories of the "Monkey Runs"
Young lads and lasses would dress up and walk along Moorland Road, High Lane and through Burslem town.
In Newcastle People would walk along the High Street and on into the Ironmarket and Tunstall's Monkey Run would include the Boulevard and round by the ritz.
On the subject of food the audience remembered food parcels coming from America to the families of local miners which included dried eggs and tinned bacon. Memories of queing for fruit and bread and using the Black Market for eggs from Leek and silk stockings from the US soldiers.
We talked of "make do and Mend" classes which were taught at local schools. One lady remembered making a dress out of her mums coat. Another remembered making net curtains from bacon cloth which was washed and dyed. Making peg rugs was a popular hobby with children sitting in a circle - each with a peg in hand.
Children had to make their own entertainment - one lady remembered looking for pictures in the flames of an open fire.
We discussed the air raid shelters, many people had the Anderson shelter in their back gardens. People remember hiding under tables, by the chimney breasts, in pantrys, in the cellars under the stairs. One lady remembered sheltering in a Marl Hole.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.