大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People`s War site by Alan Magson of Age Concern Bradford & District on behalf on Joyce Raper and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site`s terms and conditions.

My Name is Joyce Raper ( nee McLean ) and in 1942 was a thirteen year old living in Sheriff Hill, a suburb of Gateshead-on-Tyne.
I well remember a day in the summer of that year being sent by my auntie Hannah to the Co-op armed with a wicker basket and five children's ration books belonging to myself, my two sisters and two cousins.
At the store I duly handed over the ration books and was given, in return for payment of course, one banana and one orange for each child. I clearly remember being the centre of attraction all the way home as the fruit was clearly visible in the basket.
Strangely, I have no recollection of eating my special treat!!!
The story circulating at the time was that a ship had been able to get through from South Africa but I cannot vouch for the veracity of the story. Anyway it was a good story.
I recall VE DAY in Bradford. It was 8th May 1945 and we heard the news on the wireless that Germany had surrendered.
However, I went to work as normal at F.W. Woolworth in Darley Street. Entry was always via the back door in Piccadilly before the store opened.
Here normality ended, we were all ( in the region of 200 ) assembled on the ground floor and informed that the store would not be opening and we could all go home. Joy all round !!
The word got around that the Cathedral was open and many of us made our way there. At that time the people in the street seemed very subdued ,and I think that it was much later in the day before the full implication of the news really sunk in and the celebrations began.

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