大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War website by Kieran, a pupil from Teversham Primary School on behalf of Mavis Gibson and has been added to the site with her permission. Mavis Gibson fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

On 3rd September 1939, my sister Betty and I were walking our dog on Jesus Green Cambridge when we heard the sirens for the first time. We froze in terror; we knew we had to get home fast because our mother was on her own in the house. She would be worried about us and likewise we were concerned about her. By the time we got in Bridge Street our dog was waiting for us. We didn鈥檛 go to the nearest shelter, but used to shelter under the oak staircase in the house. I was 18 at the start of the war, I was first sent to work at Benson Street Castle Hill, at Grays Factory which had been turned over for the war effort. Here we made Fins for barrage balloons. I used to go each day with my friend Dorothy
Cook. After a year I was sent some papers and had to go and register at Eaden Lilleys, I was then sent to Pyes radio factory. We made components, we made parts for the navy, and the navy personnel would often come and observe our work. We worked shifts 06.00 till 14.00 or 14.00 till 22.00. We used to cycle to work and as there was no street lighting, we would often have to cycle in the dark. I would meet my friends along the way and we would all go together. After work Mum would have big pot of vegetable stew on the boil.

As we didn鈥檛 have a garden we used to rely on neighbours who grew their own vegetables to make up our rations. In the summer we would bottle fruit, which we had picked - greengages, plums, blackberries and blackcurrants - and put them in kilner jars. In between shifts we used to have to fire watch my sister, and I would go to the top of the house and watch for flares. One night we saw the flares and heard a big bang. I remember Thompson Lane being hit. Houses were destroyed and several people killed. Barrow Road and Vicarage Terrace were also bombed and several people were killed.

Mum had a shoe shop; Mr Everitt worked in the shop repairing the air mens boots, which were bought to us weekly. My sister and I had to shine them up before collection. We also had to dye and shine the belts for the officers camped near by. When we had some free time, we would go to the pictures at the Victoria in Market Square. My friends Dorothy Cook,
Phil Barker and Ethel Bateson, would all go in the afternoon. We also went to the Arts Theatre to see 鈥淭he Twinkle Shows鈥� staring Clarks, Rose and company. Also the 鈥淎lice Reynolds鈥� variety show at the Guildhall. We hadno hot water, so we had to boil it up on the stove, which was also our only
means of heat! There was no bathroom or toilet, so we washed in the scullery and used the outdoor toilet.

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