大象传媒

Wartime Transport and Evening Entertainment

In my home town of Leicester trams were the main form of public transport. In peacetime the first tram to leave the central depot to the edge of town terminal started at 6.30 a.m. and the last one left at 11.00 p.m. In wartime the starting time was the same, but all public transport, trams and buses alike, had the last vehicle leaving wherever it was, for the depot, at 9.00 p.m. This meant a long walk home after seeing a film at one of the many cinemas in the town centre or on the outskirts, Symphony Concerts at the De Montford Hall were always a sell-out, but they had to begin early to have the Hall cleared by 9.00 p.m. Often a fleet of double-decker buses would be arranged to take concert goers home. The same arrangement was made outside the Football and Rugby grounds on Saturday afternoons. There were few cars around 鈥� petrol was rationed to certain key personnel. I remember doctors driving cars and maybe senior police officers 鈥� and the Mayor of course! Farmers too had a ration 鈥� I think it was 3 gallons a month 鈥� and a larger amount for their tractors. This was coloured pink to stop it being used in private vehicles. The police could stop any car and 鈥渄ip鈥� its tank 鈥� and heaven help you if pink petrol was found in a private car!

Train journeys were always interesting. You never knew at what time you would end your journey if you were going any distance, as unexpected troop movements and freight trains, took precedence and if there was an air raid warning the train had to stop and wait for the all clear. County commuter trains were usually fairly reliable. The story of my honeymoon journey is probably a typical wartime one. After the ceremony and the reception, my new husband and I, together with the best man and chief bridesmaid were driven to my parents home (yes, there was petrol for weddings and funerals!) to change for the journey, me into my 鈥済oing away suit鈥�, and he out of his dress blues into everyday khaki. The car then drove us to the station leaving the best man and bridesmaid to tidy away our wedding clothes. The train left Leicester L-M-S station at 2.30 p.m. We had booked a hotel room in Bristol for one night, before going to Teignmouth in Devon.

The train was rather crowded but we got seats. There were no refreshments to be had and we arrived in Bristol and 9.30 p.m. It was only a few minutes walk to the hotel fortunately. These days you would do the journey in 2 hours, it took us 7 hours! At the hotel dinner was over, but we could have a sandwich and half a pint of beer 鈥� they were very busy still cleaning up after bomb damage the night before! There were not many guests, so the bathroom on our corridor was free 鈥� but sorry! Hot water obtainable between 7.00 a.m. and 9.00 p.m. only!! We managed with cold water and then examined the bed. Clean sheets, warm blankets and eiderdown, and soft plump pillows 鈥� on top of 2 spring mattresses and 6 feather beds 鈥� nowhere else to store them after bomb damage!

I鈥檓 not telling you anymore!

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