大象传媒

10/06/2005

As boys in the blitz, we used to run around collecting bits of shrapnel, bomb casings and fins. Often they could be still quite hot and almost always they were very sharp. It was very prestigious to have the biggest and best bits of shrapnel and bomb.

One day I found an unexploded incendiary and, feeling like the king of bragging rights, slipped it into my pocket and hid it in the garden shed. I knew I shouldn鈥檛 have it really, so decided to keep quiet about it and tell no-one.

On VE day, there was to be a huge bonfire on Pickering Park, I think it was. I threw the incendiary in the fire during the day, when it was lit. You can imagine the rest. I was there on the night when the fire was lit and, eventually, when the incendiary went up and took the bonfire with it. I was blown off my feet as were so many of the crowd. I don鈥檛 think anyone was seriously injured, but there wasn鈥檛 a great deal left of the bonfire!
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Added by: Alan Brigham - www.hullwebs.co.uk

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