Normal life for a child in wartime

I was born at Minster Hospital, Isle of Sheppey, delivered by an army nurse, on 7th April, 1940. I just have a few memories of the war.

Every evening, the black blinds that had to be used without fail before the lights were used.

The siren sometimes used when my Mum took me out shopping and we all had to run to the shelters by the seawall.

I remember seeing the searchlights that used to sweep across the Island when it got dark.

In the garden I used to collect shrapnel in my little toy bucket.

At weekends my parents sometime used to take me to the VC, a local social club. We would sit in the grounds in fine weather and, when I was old enough, I was taken into the hall for a dance around.

Although I was very young, these memories are very clear in my mind, and I thought that was how the world was always.