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Prior to the D-Day landings I worked at Lensbury Club (which is situated on the River Thames) at Teddington Surrey.

A part of Shell Petroleum had relocated from Holland and had taken over several Victorian houses backing on to the river.

When the Americans joined us General Eisenhower’s headquarters were based at Bushey Park.

He and his staff took over one of the houses next to our offices so it was only natural that we got to know them. We invited them join us in the Lensbury Club and in return they invited our staff to the concerts at Bushey Park.

We got to see and meet many American stars — but the night I remember most is the night that Glen Miller and His Band came to Bushey and played to us in an open air concert during which a ‘Doodlebug’ came over.

The whole of the audience held their breath — ALL (apart from the Band) heads looked skyward and watched and waited for its engine to stop — IT DID — and came screaming down to explode on the other side of the park — close enough for the earth to move under our feet.- BUT — Glen Miller and his Band played on not missing a note and carried on to finish the Concert.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER INDEED!

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