I lived near Eltham. Schools were spread so thin. We went to school
for an hour and half every day. I remember being taken home from
school by the teacher. Your mum would take you and the teacher
would see you home. There was a shelter on every corner of the road
and you had to dive down. There was a chain of children going along
and the teacher made sure you all got home safely.
When I left school I worked in a draper's shop in Eltham. It was very
strict . There was a manageress and me - a general dogsbody. I had
one uniform, brown, to dust the shop in the morning, and another,
grey, to serve. I had an abscess that burst on my face - I had to take
the day I missed as holiday. I helped dress the doll for the window
every week. One colour was used to dress the window then.
I decorated the doll in bits and pieces. It was a baby doll with a
moulded head and blue eyes. It was my job. Every week after the
bombing, the eyes of the doll were blown out. I had to put them back
in every time. I think the memory of this doll rubbed off on me. I have
collected dolls ever since. There are two or three hundred of them all
over the house.
Father was a baker in the war for the forces. He was a civilian -
reserved occupation - an official baker. He baked all night. His apron was plastered with dough. Dirty grey flour. Washing was difficult. Mum
used to have to scrape it off. There were no "treats" of bread - as all
workers were searched as they left. I had 2 brothers in the war. One
brother was a big eater - and he was in the Catering Corps. The other,
a driver, was stationed at home. He did better in the army than he ever
did on Civvie street.
I used to love going dancing. I remember a night when there were
more sergeant's there than usual. I wasn't fussy who I danced with.
I was 16. If I didn't dance every dance I was annoyed. The dance
stopped at 11. I loved the foxtrot best. We had a live orchestra. The
last dance was "Who's taking you home tonight?" Then I'd get the last
bus home. It was in a dancing club, above Burton's. That's where I met
Ted. I had 2 dresses in nylon - one pink the other turquoise. I loved
those dresses and I've kept them all this time.