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I was sixteen years old and living with my mother and father in Bury, Cambridgeshire when war broke out. In 1942, keen to help with the war effort, I went for an interview to be an army driver but the woman who interviewed me, told me I was too small and not strong enough. Disappointed, I returned home. As I was already serving part-time in the Fire Service, I spoke to the Officer in Charge who suggested I work full-time. I happily agreed and he kindly made all the arrangements.
Although I was given basic training in how to use a hydrant and how to hold a hose, I never attended any fires. A subsequent medical showed that I had a heart defect, so I was only allowed to work in Fire Service administration.
I enjoyed my time in the Fire Service even though it only lasted the duration of the war. I’d left school at sixteen without any qualifications but I found myself in a job that was important both to the war effort and to me.
I had a variety of responsibilities, which included the Finance Department, sorting out wages and paying bills, occasionally operating the switchboard and working in the mail office. I worked a normal 9 — 5 day but when I was stationed at Cambridge, I also worked some nights, on air raid duty.
I wore a uniform that consisted of a navy blue, skirt or trousers, navy blue tunic jacket with the NFS badge on the breast pocket, a white or blue shirt, a Glengarry beret with an NFS badge, and lace-up shoes. My service number was 898514. I became a Leading Firewoman and had a red stripe across my shoulder that denoted my rank.
During my time with the Fire Service, I travelled around the region based at different HQ’s in Whittlesey, Cambridge, Anstey Hall in Trumpington and Whitney Wood in Stevenage.
While I was in Stevenage, I lived in a billet in Baldock - a house that I shared with other girls working in the Fire Service. I enjoyed living with the other girls. We were all about the same age and if any of us had a date or we were going out for an evening, we would borrow clothes from each other. We shared so much and looked out for each other. We loved to go dancing and have fun. In some ways, the war gave us, as young girls, a freedom and independence that we might not have had otherwise. We were working and living away from home but we had the support of friends.
At the end of the war, I had to return to live with my parents in Bury. It was disappointing and frustrating to give up everything but ill health prevented me from continuing with the Fire Service.
I was proud to wear the uniform and work in the Fire Service and if I had to, I would gladly do it all over again.

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