大象传媒

I was 7 years old when war broke out, and 13 when it ended. My father, brother and I was in the old bus converted into a caravan behind the sandhills at Chapel Point. My sister and mother had gone home as my sister, who was 14, had just started work as a girl messenger with the Post Office. My brother and I had walked along the beach to Chapel St Leonards to the amusements when the news came over the wireless that we were at war with Germany. My brother who was 12 at the time and I ran back to tell our father. We packed up quickly and went back home to Lincoln.

That night the sirens went and we all squeezed in the cupboard under the stairs. We stayed there for nearly 3 hours, nothing happened. We went out onto Manor Rd and listened to cows mooing. There was a farm and field where the Broadway is now. Eventually the all clear was signalled. It was a false alarm and so we went back to bed.

I remember bumping into people in the Bailgate in the black out and having a good laugh. The spirit of life was so different from now. We all helped each other by pulling together.

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