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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Bill Ross of the ‘Action Desk — Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Sylvia Clark, and has been added to the site with her permission. Mrs Clark fully understands the site's terms and conditions.
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I was born on the 6th of April 1945 in the Firvale area of Sheffield, the youngest daughter of William and Lucy Rowding. I have vivid memories of taking our dog Judy, walking over Osgathorpe Road, down Ellesmere Road, to the top of Gower Street, to meet my father coming home form working at Firth Brown Tools. I was about eleven years of age at the time and as along as I had Judy with me, I felt safe.

I can remember my (late) father telling me how I was Christened on V.E. Day at All Saints’ Church on Ellesmere Road, as we were walking along Ellesmere Road. He always seemed to be proud of this; he also used to point out where buildings had been blitzed. Life was hard then however, we all had jobs to do, e.g. errands for neighbours or selling newspapers to earn a bob or two.

There has always been bullying and thuggery in the world; it is a lot worse today than in the fifties or sixties. Now retired from the caring profession, and the mother of four and grandmother of eight, I am thankful that they (my children and grandchildren) have never had to do what I did. But then, on the other hand, my childhood taught me a lot. We all have our own memories and I’ll hang on to these.

Pr-BR

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