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Another memorable occasion was when we heard on the Lord HawHaw programme that my uncle, a Major in the Paratroop Regiment, missing after the Battle of Arnhem, was a prisoner in Germany. We had never listened to the programme until he was missing and we were sure that his elderly parents would not have been listening. They were not on the phone and my Father could not use the car, because there was no longer a basic petrol ration, so he put on his boots and walked the 2 miles to Trefor to tell them. Meanwhile, my Mother and the folks on the telephone exchange spent ages finding my Aunt's phone number in London. They were very helpful and did find it.
I do not visit Barmouth often, but the place always reminds me of the Italian capitulation. Our whole family had gone to Barmouth on the Sunday School trip. We were about to board the coach for our journey home, when my Father bought an evening paper which bore the good news. It made our day!
We wanted to do something as a family on the next day after Mr Churchill's announcement. We were only allowed to use the car when it was essential to the grocery business, or for my grandfather's public duties when there was no public transport.(he was an Alderman of the County Council)We did not break those rules except on 9th May when my Father risked taking us all to 'The Liver Inn' in Rhydtalog, on the Llandegla Moors for afternoon tea. Nobody stopped us to ask whether our journey was really necessary but we felt rather daring and very elated.

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