大象传媒

After a while we heard of a cottage going near Ditton. Les and I went to view it and discuss the details. It was a basic two up, two down unfurnished cottage. There were no facilities, in fact there was no running water, just a well and an outside toilet and he wanted 10shillings a week, and that was on top of paying rent for the house in Coventry. On top of that, it was mid winter following the November blitz. Anyway, we reported back to the family and my mother said we鈥檇 take it. There was a local man who had a truck and he did occasional removals. Les had a word with him and he agreed to go to Coventry, for a price of course, and pick up some of our furniture and belongings. Les and myself returned home on the bus to sort things out. Then the man with the truck came down and Les and himself loaded as much as they could on the truck, then Les, the man and myself squashed up in the cab to return to Shropshire. The family stayed at Ditton for three months before returning home. People would come up from Coventry on the bus, to visit.

Another time, after we鈥檇 all returned to Coventry, mother heard of a little place in Pickford Green Lane, off the A45 towards Meriden. They charged 拢2 13s a week and we were expected to sleep on the floor. Due to the intermittent bus service the family had to walk there each day. This one night I was cycling out there with Les when the clouds burst, it was so bad we had to dismount and walk. Although we draped our drench clothes in front of the fire, they were still damp the following morning when we got up at first light to cycle to work.

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