大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War Website by Joan Shipley on behalf of Audrey Ward and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I was asked to write their unusual stories. Doreen Whiting nee Casemore told me of the time when sheltering during an air raid they heard the corner house had gone. Knowing that her dad sometimes left the factory fire watch to check if they were safe, she with her mother and sister Mavis ran home to find it was the opposite corner house. However their windows were blown out, the walls cracked, curtains were hanging in shreds, and piles of soot had blasted down the chimney.

Sitting fast asleep by the fire side was her dad and his mate. When they woke him, all they could see were the whites of their eyes. Doreen said they looked like the Black and White Mistrels - minus the white gloves.

Being foundry workers they had good reason to wash the dust down with a jar or two. But that night they didn't accompany Al Jolson on the wind up gramophone.

She laughs now remembering her dads Jolson 'Sonny Boy' interpretation.

Audrey Ward nee Bolton with her brother Brian and their Mum and Dad who were publicans, sheltered under the Spon End arches until their neighbour Mr. Causer who was a funeral director, with his wife and daughter, suggested they join them on a journey to Berkswell each night. Not only for their personal safety also to protect the funeral cars from damage. Mr. Bolton drove one of them while Mr. Causer and his daughter Ena drove the other two.

It was a good job that Audrey and Brian were too young to realise that they were sleeping on the bier.

The picture I see in my mind is at that late hour of the pub closing time - everywhere blacked out, and a funeral cortege making its way through the streets and lanes.

We can laugh now.

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