大象传媒

During the Second World War I was an air raid warden in Manchester. In July 1945 I was pregnant with my first child having waited until the hostilities were almost over before starting a family.One afternoon in June when we all thought the war was finished, I sallied forth down the road and heard the sound of a 'Doodlebug'. as you know if you can hear engined it was still flying, but ifthe noise stopped that meant it was coming down. Sure enough it stopped, so I lay down in the gutter. So did another pedestrian - a man. 'When is your baby due?" he asked. When I told him he exclaimed 'don't go and have it now!' Luckily for us we heard the bomb explode some way off but being so heavy, I couldn't get up on my own. The poor man had his work cut out heaving me out of the gutter. When the war finally ended there was great rejoicing and parties in the street. Everyone donated something - a precious tin of salmon or a wartime recipte cake (with dried egg and soya flour of course) The street lights went on again, the blackout blinds were torn down, the netting pasted on the windows was removed and the church bells silenved during the war and only to be used in case of enemy invasion were rung in celebration. We all looked forward to seeing loved ones but sad and those who were lost. We looked forward to the end of food rationing and being able to buy clothes without coupons .. and I had a baby. It really was a time to celebrate.No need for air raid wardens now!

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