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I had my 14th birthday just a few days before the War was declared. We were staying on a farm in Goudhurst, hop-picking. I can remember all the adults were standing round in the one hut that had a wireless and when it was announced all the Mums were crying, especially my Mum, who lost a brother in the first World War. We were given some pennies to go to get some sweets at the Village Shop. I had my 2 younger sisters with me and a cousin in a pushchair, so I was in charge! We'd just reached the shop when the siren went and everybody was running about telling us to go back to our Mums, which we did. We were so frightened, but it turned out to be a false alarm. When we got back, Mum was looking for the joint which she must have dropped in the panic when it all started. Anyway, it was finally found on the bed, underneath the newspapers, so we had our Sunday roast after all!

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