大象传媒

I wasn't old enough to be called up at the start of the war but in 1941 this was to change. I went to a Government Training centre to learn how to become an aircraft fitter. I was taught to file, drill, read drawings and various micrometers and guages. After 3 months I was tested and become qualified. The training centre had its own employment exchange and i was sent to Sage's in Enfield to work on the Sunderland and various other aircraft. My working day started at 8 in the morning. We had a 1 hour break then worked through until 7 in the evening. The day was very long as I had to take 4 buses home and didnt get home to about 10. The travelling was as tough as working in the factory as you never knew if you were going to be hit by a bomb. I can remember travelling home once and the driver shouting out from his cabin 'All out' as he had a spotted a doodlebug over head. We all rushed out and threw ourselves down on the pavement. We were lucky it didn't hit us and landed about half a mile away. We got back on the bus and went home. I remember walking into the lounge and bursting into tears as it was such a relief to be home.
Even though the work was very hard I have very fond memories of this time as this is when I met the most wonderful man who was working on the Lancaster aircraft. We were married in September 1944 and had 50 wonderful years together.