Sheltering in the cinema

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Louise Treloar on behalf of Gordon Farmer and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr Farmer fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I lived on Abbeydale Road during the war and I remember going to the cinema one night on our road. We watched Young Tom Edison, and near the end, the manager came up onto the stage and said that the sirens had gone off, and we could either stay there or go home to our shelters. We went to the doors and the row of houses opposite the cinema was on fire, so we decided to stay! Later on, my mother came up, and we went down to the Ballroom. There was glass breaking over our heads. That night, we were meant to be going to the Central cinema in the middle of town. For some reason, we went to the one on Abbeydale Road instead. When the sirens went off, the people in the Central went into some shelters near there. During the bombing, the shelter took a direct hit and everyone was killed. I’m lucky to be alive.

All sign posts had to be removed during the war. Windows had to be blacked out with black curtains on shutters. Wardens patrolled the streets and if they saw a chink of light, they would shout, “Put that light out.” People were told to “Dig for Victory.” Many had allotments and would grow their own fruit and vegetables.

Pr-BR

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.