大象传媒

The day war broke out I was at my Aunt Ruth's in Birch Street, Northwood. All the family were clustered round the wireless. Everyone started to cry when we heard the war had broken out. I was 7, almost 8. I was very sad. I knew my uncles and cousins would have to go to war.

I remember my mother went straight out and spent all she could on stocking up on tinned food for when there would be shortages. We never ran out of tinned fruit for Sunday tea!

Mother had some thrifty ways. We'd get the margerine ration and she would add milk to it, we'd stir and stir to make more so the marg would go furher.

Mother took us queuing on Saturday mornings. In Lewis' Arcade there was a cake shop - we'd queue up once with a head scarf on, then take the headscarf off and get back in the queue.

I can remember the bombing of the fields around Jenks' farm at Northwood (now Birches Head estate). Everyone thought they were after Swynnerton and had got lost. I hid under the table rather than go in the air raid shelter!

We never had stockings on our feet no matter what the weather. I don't know why - if it was shortages or if mother couldn't afford. There was always plenty of meat, potatoes and bread - there were 9 of us so we needed it. Dad grew tomatoes, cabbages and potatoes. So we didn't go short. The 9 of us were living in a 2 bedroomed house - boys in one room, girls in another.

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