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I was living in Hove in Coleridge Street. I was about 7 years old and I was waiting at a bus stop with friends and a teacher when the sirens went. We were looking at each other and wondering where to go when a lady came out of a nearby house and invited us in for cover. If the sirens went whilst we were at home we would take cover under a Morrison shelter- this was like a very large table made of metal with mesh sides. We would all squeeze underneath. My mother had put a mattress and sheets under the Morrison so we could sleep there until the ‘all clear’ siren went. All the children were issued with green ration books which entitled us to orange juice and sometimes extra eggs but we never went hungry. We also were given clothing coupons and made a lot of our own clothes from anything available. I had knickers made out of Parachute material which were lovely and silky. I can remember as a child we would make our own entertainment- play the piano and sing. My mother would teach me to knit and sew we would read a lot and listen to the radio ~ particularly Gracie Fields.

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