大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Stoke-on-Trent Libraries on behalf of Min Podmore and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

My mother Minnie was assistant caretaker at the Wedgwood Institute in the town during the war. Mr Frank Bradbury was the head caretaker then. He and his wife lived in the adjoining house, the entrance being in Baker street which was later named Clayhanger Street.

When a bomb dropped in Nile Street, it blew out all the windows in Harris's Garage in Waterloo Road. My mother, father, myself and Mr and Mrs Bradbury sheltered in the cellars under the institute during the air raid. I remember that the blast rocked the three-storey house where we lived in Keates Street, off Brickhouse Street.

On a different theme, Burslem had four cinemas, the Coliseum, the Palace, the Palladium and, up in Moorland Road, the Globe, as well as the Hippodrome Theatre. The swimming baths were also in Moorland Road just opposite the railway station which was on the Loop Line.

Burslem had three very well-known characters. Vincent Riley, George King and 'Rabbit Jack'. The latter got his name for his ability to skin rabbits in Burslem market.

My father Bill was one of the assistant caretakers at Burslem Town Hall and was responsible for raising the Union Jack above the building on special occasions. After the war my parents ran the tea bar in Burslem market. Min Podmore--Burslem,Stoke-on-trent

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