Remember
when ... Doctors
charged three shilling and six pence to visit a sick person
at home, and two shilling and six pence for a visit to the surgery
(until 1948).
Lily
Jones - born 1932
"A
squad of soldiers was billeted on the Gandy field near where we lived.
We children went to watch them putting up their huge bell tents and
field kitchen. They were in charge of two barrage balloons, we thought
they looked like great wobbly elephants in the sky. The roads were
festooned with metal pipes for emergency water supply and with ramps
at the ends of the roads so that vehicles could enter or leave without
damaging the pipes".
"Windows in every building were criss-crossed with brown sticky
paper to stop flying glass in the event of a bomb blast. Most boys
and girls collected shrapnel that fell everywhere. Some of the Birknhead
buses towed a gas cylinder behind them on a trailer, replacing petrol,
which was scarce. Headlamps were covered in black paint except for
a little cross allowing a glimmer of light".
Evacuees
Remember
when ... A Councillor's note had to be obtained before you could
visit a relative in hospital, unless they were on an 'urgent
note'.
Mollie
Connor - born 1926
"Being
an evacuee was the most memorable experience in my life, I came to
understand how naive I had been, I had always assumed that everyone鈥檚
lifestyle was the same as my own, living in street communities and
grinding poverty from which there was no escape.
I was billeted with my sister and a classmate with a Mr and Mrs. Bickley.
She was a music teacher, and he worked at the aerodrome.
They had a large garden and orchard. It was paradise. We went to school
in the village hall where dances were held.
This happy interlude as an evacuee did not last long - about six months.
I had to return to Liverpool to help my mother who had had another
baby, I was the eldest of seven.
Evacuees
Remember
when ... Children
with diptheria and other contagious illnesses were not allowed
visitors at all, unless through a glass screen.
Dorothy
Curl - born 1926
"I
came back from evacuation in Llanberis because I was of working
age. I started as an apprentice tailor at Wetherall鈥檚 in Parr Street.
After 12 months I realised I could earn far more money at the Bear
Brand in Woolton - making silk stockings. This also meant I was
able to wear fully fashioned stockings throughout the war - a rare
luxury".
VE
Day
Remember
when ... Only
two hospital visits a week were allowed, and only two people
allowed at the bedside.
Ann
Roberts - born 1937
"VE
day was wonderful, the whole street was decorated in red, white and
blue, bunting zig zagging across the street and kerbstones painted
alternate colours. All the women got together to make garlands of
flowers out of crepe paper, to decorate the doorways. Tables and chairs
were placed in a line down the middle of the street and everyone brought
a plate, cup and spoon. Each house would provide as much food and
drink as they could afford, to be shared".
"We played games, danced and had competitions - I won a bar of
chocolate for singing on top of the air raid shelter. I remember standing
on the teacher鈥檚 desk one wet playtime, belting out the Kay Starr
hit "Wheel of Fortune". Little did I know that our headmistress, Sister
Mary Cuthbert, was standing at the door of our classroom. Amazingly
she didn鈥檛 shout at me, but told me I鈥檇 just passed the test to join
a choir and sing at the Philharmonic Hall for the Festival of Britain
celebrations".
Telegraph
Boy
Remember
when ... White
reins were used on the horses pulling the herse if the deceased
was under twenty-one years of age.
Doris
Windsor, born 1917
"During
the war, it was terrifying to see the telegraph boy on his red bike.
I am ashamed to say that it was a relief when he went to someone else鈥檚
house. Eventually I did receive a cablegram - I was so frightened
but it read "Safe and well, darling, hope to see you shortly. Don鈥檛
write, Love you a million billions". I can鈥檛 describe the relief,
I was hysterical. After the war we went to Butlins in Filey. We had
a most wonderful week, and we went every year after that, the whole
family. We made our holiday dresses ourselves".
Rationing
Remember
when ... Shops
selling mantles (coats) charged top prices for 'mourning' clothes,
possibly because of the insurance money.
Phil
Kenny, born 1916
"Food rationing was a big problem. If I happened to see a group
of women queueing outside a shop, I鈥檇 join them. On one occasion we
were waiting for half a rabbit and when the shopkeeper came out, he
surveyed the queue, saw me, and shouted "You鈥檙e not a customer of
mine, you needn鈥檛 stay". So no rabbsit pie that day! "
Add your own merseyside memories to the 大象传媒 website. Each monthly edition
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or individuals.
The aim of the Mersey Times is to tell the story of a particular piece of
Merseyside history - in words and images. Click
here to send your memories here
"A
squad of soldiers was billeted on the Gandy field near where we lived.
We children went to watch them putting up their huge bell tents and
field kitchen. They were in charge of two barrage balloons, we thought
they looked like great wobbly elephants in the sky. The roads were
festooned with metal pipes for emergency water supply and with ramps
at the ends of the roads so that vehicles could enter or leave without
damaging the pipes".
"Being
an evacuee was the most memorable experience in my life, I came to
understand how naive I had been, I had always assumed that everyone鈥檚
lifestyle was the same as my own, living in street communities and
grinding poverty from which there was no escape. 
"I
came back from evacuation in Llanberis because I was of working
age. I started as an apprentice tailor at Wetherall鈥檚 in Parr Street.
After 12 months I realised I could earn far more money at the Bear
Brand in Woolton - making silk stockings. This also meant I was
able to wear fully fashioned stockings throughout the war - a rare
luxury". 
"VE
day was wonderful, the whole street was decorated in red, white and
blue, bunting zig zagging across the street and kerbstones painted
alternate colours. All the women got together to make garlands of
flowers out of crepe paper, to decorate the doorways. Tables and chairs
were placed in a line down the middle of the street and everyone brought
a plate, cup and spoon. Each house would provide as much food and
drink as they could afford, to be shared". 
"During
the war, it was terrifying to see the telegraph boy on his red bike.
I am ashamed to say that it was a relief when he went to someone else鈥檚
house. Eventually I did receive a cablegram - I was so frightened
but it read "Safe and well, darling, hope to see you shortly. Don鈥檛
write, Love you a million billions". I can鈥檛 describe the relief,
I was hysterical. After the war we went to Butlins in Filey. We had
a most wonderful week, and we went every year after that, the whole
family. We made our holiday dresses ourselves". 
"Food rationing was a big problem. If I happened to see a group
of women queueing outside a shop, I鈥檇 join them. On one occasion we
were waiting for half a rabbit and when the shopkeeper came out, he
surveyed the queue, saw me, and shouted "You鈥檙e not a customer of
mine, you needn鈥檛 stay". So no rabbsit pie that day! "