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This story was submitted to the people’s war site Alan Gammon from Littlehampton Learning Centre and has been added to the website on behalf of Len Whittlesey with his permission and he fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

THE DAY I BUNKED OFF SCHOOL

When I was about 11 my mate and I bunked off school and went to Rialto Cinema to see Errol Flynn in ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ in Leytonstone High Road. As we hadn’t any money we entered by an unsecured fire exit and sneaked into the back row.

While the film was on, at the climax of the film when Errol Flynn raised his sword we heard an almighty bang, there was no warning of an air raid so we carried on watching the film. The ‘art deco’ style lighting crashed to the floor thankfully not injuring anyone.

After the film we went outside to see complete chaos, people rushing about, glass falling and debris. As we made our way along the road we saw what appeared to be bodies laying about which frightened us, which later turned out to be manikins from the ladies dress shop.

The owner gave us both 10 bob each for helping to collect the models for her. On our return home I thought I would get a clump from my mother for coming home in such a scruffy state.

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