大象传媒

As my Mother's family were from the North we would sometimes visit them.
To me, theworld was full of people in uniforms and I would frequently see men with badly scarred faces but I had no frear of them as there were so many. At the time, I was told that they had been burned fighting Hitler and thatthere was nothing to consider unusual. Later in life I learned that they had formed a club called, the guinea pig club. Later we saw Americans and I remember thinking how they always seemed smart and handsome. They too seemed very kind and it was not unusual for children to trot up to them and say'have you got any gum chum' It seemed that I was missing out so one day I asked the question. I was given some gum but my Mother was furious, her threats left me in no doubt as to what would happen if I did it again. Thus I was one of the few childrenwho did not enjoy a supply of that wondefrful sustance.
The stations were always noisy,smelling of coal and steamy from the coal fired trains. Most people were in uniform carrying big sausage shaped bags slung over their shoulders and everyone carried a cardboard box which contained a gas mask. The station and trains were full to bursting and to move along a corridor was a major hike as people squeezed through and overkit bags, luggage and bodies. All wwere helpful and friendly. It was the same in the individual compartmentsalthough some luggage could be put onto the luggage racks over the seats. These resembled sagging strings of webs.
The journey was long and arduous as the train slowly chugges and frequently stopped on its journey to the North. When night approached peoplesat and dozed without any light as like the passing houses, the train had to be in darkness to avoid being spotted by bombers. As my Mother was travelling with a young child everyone would try to be helpful and I would be lifted and passed over the heads of people and placed on a luggage rack where I could sleep and alao give my Mother a chance of a little comfort without me on her lap.

As a toddler at the end of the war I would travel alone. My Mother would ask the guard to keep an eye on me and put me off at the appropriate station where my Grandmother would meet me. Each compartment accomodated about eight people and there was always a 'ladies compartment' near to the guards van at the rear of the train. The traveelers were always very kind to me and I would often share my jam sandwiches with them whilst they too shared whatever they had.

Traveling for me was no problem in London and apart from the buses and tube I was well able to hail a cab from a very young age, it was a part of out transport.

For safety, many people took to the underground stations and at a specific time would trapse on the platforms with thier various belongings to spend the whole night underground. I remember when getting off the tube we would have to pick our way through hoards of people, bedding and bags. As a child it seemed such a jolly place with lots of chatter and music from mouth organs. I was rather sad not to be apart of it as I would continue home. Of course I was unaware of the implications but I do remember adults talking about a hit on one of the stations and saying that the doors were brought down to stop the whole tube system being flooded.

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