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Daphne Bache ( Story told by Erica Hughes her daughter )

My mother was a Norland Nanny and in 1941 she left Reigate and took a position working in N London as a Matron in a LCC War Nursery. The children arrived at about 7 am and stayed until latish because of the long shifts their mothers were working. The children had all their meals there and any welfare provision as needed.
I spent the day in the nursery with her until I started school. I remember going to the butcher and seeing big green painted carcases hanging there. They were horse meat for human consumption. The alternative was whale meat.
I remember the smogs, which were so dense that you couldn’t see the islands in the centre of the roads.
I went to the VE day celebrations and remember the people climbing the lampposts outside Buckingham Palace. My mum had to carry me so I didn’t get crushed or lost. Although I was so young I remember the overwhelming feeling of happiness and people dancing in the streets and the union jacks waving.

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