大象传媒

During the Liverpool Blitz, the sirens sounded at 6 pm nightly, and we would make our way to the shelter, or our cellar. Eventually to drown the incessant droning of the enemy planes and the exploding bombs. We then progressed to the shelter under the market in Great Charlotte Street. On entering this bleak, sombre building it was akin to heaven and hell 鈥� the hell being on the out side. Inside it was like opening a door to another world. Crowded with both males and females of every age and nationality, singing in their own mother tongues. The Welsh 鈥榗lans鈥� renderings (?) were really something to behold. Some of the crowd would dance the night away and all in good humour. We installed a blue 鈥� Chesterfield鈥� settee and two arm chairs, staking our claim to the corner of the vast shelter, and we betide anyone who dared to trespass. I often wondered who did sleep on the settee when we were not around. My big brother had first call on it. If I complained mum would say, 鈥淟eave him alone 鈥� he鈥檚 a big lad, he needs his rest!鈥� So I would escape with the young ones, making up our own games, dressing up, usually in old curtains etc. My first wedding was in that shelter! I was eight years of age, I still have the green glass stone 鈥榤y husband鈥� gave to me as a wedding present. It took me another thirty years before I succumbed in reality.

The 鈥榓ll clear鈥� would sound at around 4 am and we would all dispense back into our sobriety. The staff from our hotel would always turn in for work a few hours later, especially Rose, 鈥榯he stork鈥�, so called because of her habit of standing on one leg whilst balancing her trays of drinks! Then Vic, a New Zealander, who promised to send me a Koala Bear, it never did arrive and as young as I was, I often wondered if he ever did reach home again. The great mystery of the war to us children A family would arrive at the shelter, as soon as the sirens sounded and it was quite a distance from their home! How did they 鈥榢now鈥� the mind boggled! Present day Harry Potter had nothing on our imaginings!!!

When the 鈥榓ll clear鈥� finally sounded it was sometimes bitter sweet to us children 鈥� the end of the 鈥榳orld of make believe鈥�. For that night at least, and looking back, almost as if it never happened, but it had, and it did, and I lived to tell the tale鈥�

"This story was submitted to the People's War site by the 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside's People's War Team on behalf of the author and has been added to the site with his / her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions."

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.