大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Anna Wilson of Leicestershire Library Services on behalf of Michael Robinson and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

War Announced
I was 9 when war broke out and lived in Lutterworth.

I remember the broadcast announcing the war and the affect it had on my parents. My mother had lost an uncle in 1916 so was very worried.

Lutterworth
The first thing that happened was a transit camp set up at the top of Stony Hollow. They also set up a voluntary canteen where my mother was a volunteer.

Nothing happened until May 1940 but we had had quite a few accidents due to the total blackout. They moved airmen into Bitteswell aerodrome and I used to take my bicycle to watch the bombers.

It was when Hitler moved into Norway that I started to get worried but there was no panic. The Home Guard was set up or, as we used to call it, 'Look, Duck and Vanish'!

I saw the men come back from Dunkirk. They looked tired but soon got chirpy when they returned home.

Our house was always open and we had many of the flying crew from Bitteswell visit. I remember one was an animator from Walt Disney. He drew beautiful cartoons.

We had many evacuees in Lutterworth and some stayed at my home. The first came in September 1939. They were a catholic school from West London, who arrived with the nuns and Mother Keo. The second lot came from Dulidge. We also had officers billeted in our homes.

I remember when a B17 Flying Fortress crashed at Moorbarns Farm.

Air Raids
I remember the night Coventry was bombed. I think it was November 15th. The sky was a deep red, like sunset. You could hear the whirr of German planes. Lutterworth didn't do too badly. I had to go through Coventry after the bombing. It was shocking to see the damage and I felt very worried about what could happen in Lutterworth.

School
I used to cycle to Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby. Many of the male teachers had been called up so we had a lot of lady teachers. I remember one French mistress who drove a battered old Austin Metro and had a cigarette in her hand. School dinners were basic but nourishing. I remember that they tried to merge Lawrence Sheriff and Rugby High School for Girls for dinners but this didn't last long!

The headmaster at Lutterworth Grammar School was Mr Reedman. He was also in charge of the Home Guard.

My sister was studying in London during the war. My dad eventually went to collect her when the bombing from the V1 rockets started.

Entertainment
We would always listen to Churchill. It was a case of 'sit down, shut up, he's on'! I remember his voice as he always dropped his h's. There were also travelling concert parties and parades for all sorts of causes such as the Spitfire Fund. There were dances up at the Raleigh canteen. I remember a lot of Para's with their red berets there in 1944. We had a picture house here in Lutterworth where we went to watch films. My parents were interested in classical music so they introduced me to many composers. I used to buy gramophone records to listen to. You had to take back old records before you could buy new ones, as they were recycled for the war effort. I used to read a lot of books. These were produced to wartime utility standard. I used to train spot at Rugby Station were lines brought trains from everywhere.

We had to rely on public transport to get around. We had a good train and bus service here and could get easily to Rugby or Leicester. I went to Rugby to see Churchill who visited in 1945 and Montgomery also visited.

For a holiday, we used to go to stay with our Auntie in Glasgow. This was 6 - 7 hours by train. I used to travel in the Guard's Van so they could look after me. I remember seeing the bomb damage to homes and buildings as I travelled. People began to take more holidays from 1943 as they opened the West Coast.

Work
My father was the manager of the factory where Vedonis Works is now. It was taken over by Raleigh Cycles to make ammunition. My father was kept on to manage the administration. The factory worked 7 days a week around the clock.

My mother managed the canteen at Raleigh.

Food
I remember that sweets were on ration. Bread didn't go on ration until after the war, in the winter of 1945/6. I remember that we always managed to have a cooked breakfast. Christmas times were always good as everyone came together and put their rations together for the meal.

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