I left school when I was 14, just before war began. I don’t know why I
didn’t do my matriculation, but for some reason I didn’t. I remember
September the 3rd - everybody was nervous, waiting for 11.00 o’clock
for the Prime Minister to speak to us. When he said “We are now at
war with Germany,” I felt very frightened. And of course in Eastbourne
it all started at once.
I stayed in Eastbourne and worked for 2 years until it became a frontline
town and then the whole family went to Stroud in
Gloucestershire. First of all I worked in the Bus Office then later,
when the Air Ministry evacuated to Stroud, I got taken on as a
temporary civil servant – working as a bookkeeper. I had to balance
the RAF’s goods every month. When the ministry went back to
London a couple of years later they took me with them. They had a
temporary office above Harvey Nichols and all the workers lived in a
hostel in South Kensington – opposite the V& A. It was just as the
Buzz bombs started, and it was very hectic, but you just got on with it
- mucked in. I had to leave the Ministry the moment war ended as I
had no qualifications. I was out, just like that. I went back to
Eastbourne and got a job.
Although the war was over it didn’t end immediately. It took time for everybody to be demobbed and there were lots of dances at the
Winter Garden. I loved dancing – Glenn Miller, in the Mood,
We’ll meet again, If you Don’t use it You’ll Lose it – wonderful tunes.
We were up there every night, dancing our socks off!
As a teenager I found the war to be rather exciting. There was such a
different attitude to life - so much friendliness and comradliness and
you could walk anywhere – day or night. It didn’t matter who you
were, you just helped one another and there was always someone
who needed help. We were all one. Everybody - rich or poor -
everybody was just one person. I believe it strengthened us. It has
made me very tolerant. I never take anything for granted. And I’m a
very good listener!