大象传媒

At the age of five years and ten months,My brother and I were put onto a train and taken to Hereford.We all assembled at a school in Bridstowe.Two by two we were ferried in black cars to various farm houses.On arrival we were greeted with"But we wanted Girls".A great welcome, at the first day in your life you had left your mother.The war had not even been declared at that time .That night I wet the bed for the first time in many years.
My first day at Bridstowe school[A one classroom one teacher School]The teacher decided that we should all sing a song,She asked for a show of hands as to who new the words.Not to be looked out of place I raised my hand. To which the teacher pointed me out and said one of the new boys can stand up and sing it to all. I stood up like a dummy unable to utter one word.She did a great job of humiliating me,After a few simalar episodes of belitlement I developed a nervous tick which to a certain degree I have had for the rest of my life.
We didnt stay for long, my mother got a house in the suberbs, and I returned to Birmingham.I started at another school at Selly Park, Not for long. when the bombing started the school stopped. this went on and off for years .In 1939 I had only been going to shool for a few weeks I hadnt learned to read write or tell the time.I was considered backward and very much neglected by my teachers
My teachers even humiliated me in class in front of the whole class,With comments like nod your head a few more times and you may get the answer.
My father went into the army in 1939 My mother got 15shillings a week,from the government, the rent was 15 shillings a week.She went out one day to get a job,she had to. she got the job,and had to start on the spot, she came home late. I stood on the window sill,for hours looking down the street for her return It was the longest day in my life.The bombs came down night after night,2000 people were killed in Birmingham 600 on one night alone .My mother had to go to work 6 days a week I had little or no schooling
I didnt learn to read un till i was about 9 years old These are just a few of my happy wartime memories.
This Was not the same war some other childeren had ,my wife lived about 15 miles from Birmingham, and she hardley knew there was a war at all.

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