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The war years are amongst my first and most remembered of my childhood. We lived in Southend-on —sea, Essex, a Danger area in 1940. My father worked for the G.P.O. He was an expert in telephony. He was transferred to Bath living in ‘digs’ with a kind family called ‘Jones’ My first school was on the Wellsway when I became 5 years old.
On the night of Saturday April 25th 1942, we took shelter in the cupboard under the stairs. The first raid of the night saw incendiary bombs set the city ablaze. The second raid that night brought high explosive bombs. The screech of bombs was terrifying. We covered under blankets as each stick of bombs came down, grateful to survive each time.
The streets were machine gunned; Holes appeared in the front door. Then bombs straddled our house, demolishing properties and killing our neighbours, including a new baby. The roof, doors and windows were blown in — the dust was frightful. I remember being carried along the bear-flat. My father suffered broken ribs. Friends in the St. John’s ambulance bandaged his chest, I could not understand why the pavements were on fire — the gas pipes were destroyed. Ambulances and fire appliances were working — bells clanging.
Now 60 years on I am pleased to learn about the extent of the Bombings. I love Bath — and my family often come to enjoy it’s peace and tranquillity.

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