大象传媒

When WWII was declared I was in nurse training at Sherburn Hospital near Durham. I was on holiday at the time and a telegram arrived from Matron saying 'Return to duty or not at all' so I forfeited the rest of my holiday and returned to duty!
When the air raid sirens went off we had to take the mobile patients down to the basement and the others were lifted on their mattress under the iron bed frames - even if we were on night duty we still had to perform this duty. Fortunately it didn't happen often.
We had one day off duty per fortnight and my home was about 7 miles away, sometimes I travelled home by bicycle. Home was a small village consisting of 3 farms and 6 cottages. Apart from the farm, my father kept a big garden growing his own vegetables and fruit bushes which was a big help to our food rations.He also worked for Air Raid Precautions and drove the vehicle collecting the A.R.P. workers.
My mother was a very practical housewife and managed to make rations go a long way. She was always busy sewing, making do and mending and knitting etc. Nothing was ever wasted, clothing no longer wearable was cut up into clippings for mat making. Of course, clothing was on coupons and I was so delighted when my mother made pyjamas for me out of parachute silk and a dressing gown from a travel rug.
Later, I went to midwifery training at Sunderland and when the air raid siren sounded we continued to go to deliver the babies in their own homes as was the custom at that time.
My 2 brothers were in the forces, the eldest in the Army and the youngest in the Royal Navy on the Russian Convoy. They both returned safely whereas sadly so many didn't.
As told to Lobley Hill Library staff.

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