大象传媒

I was born and lived with my family in Birmingham.
After war broke out it was quite common for the city to be at risk from aerial attack-there were regular air raids. On one occasion a bomb was dropped near a big asylum near our house it landed in a reservoir and caused chaos with the water supply. My father was crippled with athritis and could not work, however, during the war he thought everyone should do their bit and even though he was exempt he signed up for the APR- he used to go and check properties during the air raids. He had a bed under the stairs as he thought it would be safe there- my mother and I would go next door to share their shelter when the sirens went off. Some people nearby had a big shelter and use to sleep in it every night to save them from being disturbed!
After a while it was thought it would be safer for the children to be evacuated. I went to Sinderford in Gloucester, myself and another girl were boarded with a young family; then man of the house worked at the local pit in the baths house, the lady had two small children - we used to help her out. The other evacuee and I had to share a bed, it was very strange at first sleeping with someone you didn't know!
I went to the local school on an afternoon where I learnt secretarial skills after the school children went home.
My older brother was called up into the navy and as our house was 'empty' my mother had to take in boarders from the 'munitions factory.
My mum came to visit me and stayed in digs near by, I was lucky I was looked after well by the family I was sent to, but it still wasn't home.

I kept in touch with the couple who looked after me and heard from their daughter when they passed away.

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