大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's Wra website by Julia Shuvalova for GMR Actiondesk on behalf of M. S. Craggs and has been added with her permission. The author is fully aware of the terms and conditions of the site.

When the war had started, they had to relocate the sunpats of peanut butter from the southern area up north. A derelict factory in Golborne had become the site. It was located at the top of Legh Street, which was also going uphill. When the lorries were coming in, the drivers used to go very carefully and slowly, which gave an advantage to children. We used to follow the lorry, in hope to catch some peanuts when they used to fall out from the bowls. We would collect them and carry home.

I lived not far from the East Lancashire Road (A580 nowadays), and once a plane came over the road, and two German airmen fell out. In the woodlands nearby there was a pit, and I went there with a few children. We saw one of the pilots, but he was so scared, that he ran away! We reported him to the police, and both pilots were caught.

My mother was a local midwife, and she was usually called out at night, during the raids. She would have to go on her own. During the war she had a special helmet and gas mask, like the ones that police had had.

And my father was in the home guard. One night he was patrolling the East Lancashire Road. Suddenly he heard the noise. He shouted out to an intruder to lay down his weapon, then he warned that he was going to fire the gun. First, there was no answer, but then the cow came out from the darkness. My father was relieved.

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