大象传媒

I work in a day centre with the W.R.V.S. and lead on-going reminiscence classes. Some of the ladies who worked in the factory attend these classes. They have spoken to me of their wartime experiences. One lady in particular says she worked on a bench in the North side, and she dealt with cordite (she made the little bags that they put the cordite in that went in the bombs) this cordite turned the lady鈥檚 hair yellow. They were nicknamed 鈥渃anaries鈥� The work was very repetitive and the cordite made them feel sleepy so every so often they would nod off, so they would sing songs to keep themselves awake. Movement in the factory, due to tight security, was restricted. Running was forbidden due to the risk of accidentally setting off the explosive. On the whole the girls were very happy lot and they worked knowing they were doing their 鈥渂it鈥� for the war effort. They would put notes in the bags in the hope that the boys would get them at the other end. Many of the ladies still live in Hereford and keep in touch. Many of them came to the launch of the book, meeting up with friends that they had not seen for a long time.

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