大象传媒

I was home on disembarkation leave (not knowing where to but it turned out to be Egypt) from RAF 56 squadron North Weald Essex. I arrived at my future wife鈥檚 home to find it empty and in the darkness of blackout. This was Welsh street, in Deansgate, Manchester. The site is now the Crown courts in Manchester. A neighbour heard me knocking and came out to say they were down the shelter and directed me to the basement of 鈥楽impson & Godley鈥� and the entrance to the basement which was opposite the stage door of the Opera House.

Down there I found over 200 people. On seeing me my future Father in Law, John Grimes, told me I was just in time, 鈥淕o up to the house and brew a jug of tea!鈥� I did as directed and returned with the tea and my accordion. I was down in the shelter for about an hour playing tunes until I decided it was time for me to go and get some sleep. On the way back to the house I nipped in the stage door of the Opera House to say hello to the doorman, a fat Cockney called Ted Ryder, and an old friend. On stage at the time was the Famous Alan Jones remembered for his 鈥淒onkey Serenade鈥� from the film Firefly. Whilst I had been chatting to Ted a group of girls had gathered at the stage door to cach a glimpse of Alan Jones and get an autograph. As I took my leave of Ted and pushed my way through the blackout curtain Ted called out 鈥淕ood night Mr. Jones.鈥� The girls mobbed me and I signed lots of autographs with love from Bob. It wasn鈥檛 till on of the girls took out a penlight and shouted, 鈥溾�檈re he isn鈥檛 Alan Jones!" that I was found out and had to make a dash back down the air raid shelter.

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