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'This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Barbara Hoblin of the Chineham Learning Centre on behalf of Margaret Winwood and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'

When the war ended I was six years old. I lived in North London, Cricklewood, throughout the war – my brother and I were not evacuated. The school that I went to had an air-raid shelter on the premises and I remember having a gas mask.

In one of the bedrooms there was a “Morrison Shelter” were all my family went when the air raid warning went off.

Although I was very young at the time, I cannot ever remember being frightened. The war started just after I was born so I did not know what life was like without all the comings and goings involved during wartime.

I remember going to Sutton Valence, near Maidstone, to see my aunt. The idea was that life would be better there, but I felt it was worse as the German planes (doodlebugs) were going over and they were very noisy.

My brother was born after me during the War and he was a very nervous young child. People said this might have been because my mother was nervous during the pregnancy.

In order to help out with rations my father had an allotment, kept rabbits and chickens and therefore our food was perhaps better than other peoples. My aunt at Sutton Valence sent fresh fruit. The post in those days was better than today!

My father was working for a small engineering company, he was in the ��ѿ��ý Guard as well as looking after the allotment and the family.

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