大象传媒

During part of the Blitz my Nanna, then called Ivy Haydon, worked as a cinema usherette so that she could be near her Mum. We are not exactly sure where the cinema was, but probably either Hackney or Clapton.

The cinema was showing Pinocchio when an air raid started and the blast from a bomb falling nearby knocked out part of the side wall. The audience mostly ignored the damage and remained in their seats to watch the end of the film.

Ivy went running home to check that her Mum was alright, but as she dashed down the street she was grabbed from a doorway. She was a little surprised to find it was her Mum sheltering in the doorway -with 2 glasses of Guiness! "I thought you might need this" Mum said, and they stood in the doorway drinking the beer while bombs fell around them.

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