大象传媒

As I was born in 1940, my memories are odd snatches.I remember that as we lived close to the Slough trading estate, where a great deal of war work was going on,planes and arms being built,large oil drums were kept burning 24x7 to provide a smoke screen, there were four on my way to school, we also had quite a lot of the huge silver barage balloons.
I was happy as a small child if I was in my toy box,a packing crate,with my grandfathers gun, and his tin hat on.
One night we were down in the air raid shelter, my mother went to answer the call of nature, when she came back she reprimanded my grandfather for leaving the grass roller in the way of the door to the shelter, it was an unexploded bomb!
I remember my mother and I sitting on a train by the sea in the middle of the night outside Dawlish, in complete darkness, while Plymouth was being bombed. Mercifully none of family was hurt but as all of the landmarks had been desroyed it was very difficult to find our way even though we knew where we were going.My great aunt Amy was very cros that even though she had been bobed out of her house three times.'Hitler' had not had the decency to detroy the awful set of rabits her mother-in-law had given her for her wedding present!
I remember my mother and I standing on 'Horlicks' bridge watching London burn....20+ miles away.I can still remember that particularly, the sky was a bright orange I suppose it was more amazing because we spent so much time outside in the dark,(mustn't show a light!)
Whenever we went on the train to London we always saw vast numbers of folk in uniform, all sorts,sailors,airmen, soldiers and many women in various uniforms.
I remember the British Resturant, somewhere were you could a decent meal for a very small amount,the smell of cabbage was very strong, but I remember that we were often very gratful for a meal, we did not have any other option sometimes.
I can still remember the taste of the orange juice which was issued to us, also Rosehip syrup,the older children used to collect the rosehips for which they were paid a small sum.Every thing was reused or recycled, rag and bone men were very often around our way,as was the pig bin man.
I remember the radio, dance music, Jo Loss, and Glen Miller were particular favourites in our family, family favourtes, workers playtime, Tommy Handley, 'Have a go'with Wilfred Pickles, and Violet Carson (she played the piano)I think that I have been an addict of the radio ever since.

I guess that the war bought out the best in most people at the worst of times.

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