大象传媒

This story was related to Joan Venus-Evans of the 大象传媒 Peoples War Volunteers, by Ms June Maltby of Grimsby. It recalls memories of her mother as a waitress serving American Forces personel in The Lifeboat pub, Cleethorpes.
My Mum became a pub waitress at The Lifeboat, Cleethorpes, during the war. When the American Forces arrived at Northcoates they used to come into the town and drink in The Lifeboat.
Even film stars were called up during the war and the famous actor Jimmy Stewart used to drink in the pub. One night, after a few drinks he invited my mum to join him in drinking a bottle of whisky, my Mum was quite stunning in those days with her jet black hair and porcelein complexion. She thanked him kindly, explained she had to get home to her girls as her husband was away in the navy and put him in a taxi back to Northcoates.
Her memories of another American movie star weren't so fond. She spoke of a little chap with a wide mouth called James Cagney who thought he was God's gift. She took great delight once on hearing a sergeant tell him 'you might be big in Hollywood sonny but you're just a private in my army.'
Sometimes she would come home from work and cry after hearing that one of the young men who'd been in the pub a few nights before had been shot down. "They're just babies" she'd say of the eighteen and nineteen year old victims.
She told me another story about a young man apologising to his friend for forgetting to have his watch repaired. The friend told him not to bother as he wouldn't be needing it anymore. Sure enough he didn't return from his next flight.

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