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This story was submitted to the people war Website by a volunteer from Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life on behalf of Mrs Doris King.

I have just come across the enclosed cuttings and photos.
The one of the Ensa Casualty you may have already.
The one on the Heathcoat Hall Festivity I remember well. Mr Caspar’s department was known as ‘Parachutes’. He brought down from London a group of workers who were billeted with families in the Westexe area. Other workers were brought to the new department from outside or transferred from other departments.

One big change which they made was the ‘Tea Break’. A tea urn was brought from somewhere and 2 of us had to take it down to a workshop to be put on to boil. We would go back later with a quarter pound of tea and put it in the urn and carry it back to the second floor of the building (Health & Safety?). We had to buy the tea, milk and sugar. How we did it with rationing I don’t know. The next thing was a tray of doughnuts! It was soon after this that the canteen was instituted and everyone had a ten minute break.

The department put on a concert in 1941, which is self explanatory. Also in June 1940 Mr Caspar organised an outing to Plymouth by coach. It was very wet when we arrived in Plymouth and Mr Caspar managed to find a hall for us to use for a couple of hours. We had our sandwiches and then put on an hour’s entertainment. Everyone took part, either singing dancing, playing the piano, etc. Then we went back via Paignton where the photo was taken. The one on Post Bridge was taken on the way to Plymouth. I can remember most of their names.

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