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My first memory of the war is being in the shelter when I was five, at school. The school was bombed eventually.

I can remember every night that we slept in the shelter in the garden. My Mum said that it was best to sleep in the shelter because it was more safe that way.

I still have cutting from the newspaper which shows a photo of me and my Mum during the first evacuations. My Mum is holding my hand as I'm about to leave and travel to Bury St Edmunds. At the time I was about 4 years old. I was only away for 6 weeks because my Mum didn't like it. My Mum was actually with me during the evacuation because she was getting over TB. Mum missed home and her Mum, so she decided to return to Canning Town.

I can remember the Doodlebugs. They would come at anytime, daylight or night. I can remember walking the dogs and then I heard the engines of the doodlebugs and when you hear that sound you just run!

Every year during the war and after the war I used to pick hops in Kent. We had a field gun and search lights with us and the farmer let us go early when the bombing was bad, so that we could stay in the huts.

Nowadays I won't get on an aeroplane. That's because they bring back bad memories. My husband used to work for the RAF so he wants to get on a plane!!

My hope for the future is that my grandchildren won't have to experience a war like I had to.

July 10 2004

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