Ruby Staddon, Firewatcher in Plympton

Ruby Staddon (1925-2015) lived in Plympton. The photo is from 1943 when she had to do evenings and some overnights as a fire guard with the ARP. Ruby is back row third from the right. Back row second from right is her neighbour and lifelong friend Peggy Willis. My mother spoke of being taken out in lorries to put out fires with stirrup pumps on Roborough Down though she said she never quite knew how much use they were as a couple of teenagers. Later in the war she was called up and sent to Bath to work with the Admiralty operating a teleprinter. She said they had top secret things coming through the office but it never meant anything to her and she 'was just doing her bit'.