大象传媒

A brick above ground air raid shelter was constructed on Neville Road. As I recall it was in front of Mr and Mrs E Russen at number 24. Dad did not think much about the safety in there, 鈥渟afer under the stairs鈥� he remarked. After talking with Mr Rowley at Number 1 and Mr G Payne at number 7, it was decided that they would dig and build a re-enforced underground shelter at number 1 as there was he driveway space. MR Rowley was in the building trade and took charge of the materials needed.

The centre bunks could be raised and hooked up for seating comfort until bed time. When dad was on Home Guard duty, Mum and I would spend the night down there. Some nights after one or two sirens and all clears we鈥檇 just stay underground. Better than jumping out of a warm bed, grabbing coat and shoes and run up the Close and then return again.

One Sunday afternoon Dad was in the shed and I was walking up the path. Suddenly a German aircraft flew at chimney height over us, firing its machine guns. I fell to the ground, Dad ran, gathered me up and into the passage way. He shouted to mum who was in the kitchen 鈥淐ome on gal鈥�. After a minute or two Dad decided we should go to the shelter. We ran out, right into the path of another German aircraft, also firing at will. We were alright, and the aircraft went to strafe St Faith air field.

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