Archive (1372 life histories found)
It's never too late to shine,reach for your own personal star, it's worth it
I was one of the first to sit the dreaded 11 plus exam,which I failed,even though I was on the borderline to pass. This affected me deeply as I thought I had let my parents down. However,it also motivated me to work hard and take an interest in…
Tags: 11plus exam, courses, driving tests, family, marriage
I thought I was a princess as for the first time,I had the luxury of a bedroom all to myself
Shortly after the war ended,my mum and dad moved the family to a brand new prefab bungalow complete with hot and cold running water,a bathroom and even a fridge. I thought I was a princess as for the first time,I had the luxury of a bedroom all to…
Tags: fridge, own bedroom, running water
It was like a carnival. Everyone could breathe again,the peace had finally come
In 1944 my father was lucky enough to be stationed in Ballyhalbert with the R.A.F. We all went as a family and lived in a coastguard cottage right on the beach. It was idyllic. I went to the little country school in the village. We only had two…
Tags: carnival, end, grnadmother, parties, war
My life meandered along in this innocent way until I was six years old and then something happened to change things forever
My life meandered along in this innocent way until I was six years old and then something happened to change things forever. I came home from school one day to find a little stranger in the house. My young baby brother,Kenneth. My six year old…
I was wakened by my granny shouting 'come and see what Santa has brought
Christmas was my very favourite time of year. On Christmas Eve I had to go to bed very early. I was so excited I could hardly get to sleep. Then on Christmas morning I was wakened by my granny shouting 'come and see what Santa has brought '. In…
Tags: Christmas, grandmother, presents
Some people overdid it and it was in all the papers that a few people died from eating too many
During the war everything was rationed,we were issued with ration books; cream for groceries,red for clothes and another one for sweets. I was a great treat being given a silver sixpence (2 p) for 2 ozs of sweets,which was all we could buy with…
Tags: bananas, food, overeating, rationing, war
We children didn't understand the danger and looked on it as a great adventure
I remember the night of the big blitz in Belfast. We could hear the terrible sound of the sirens telling us that the German bombers were overhead. Although there were shelters in the street,very few people used them. My mother insisted we all…
I thought I was the star of the silver screen and dreamed my dreams of becoming a famous film star
Our house was always full of people at weekends. My granny had four sisters,mother,Maggie,Rachel and Lucy who all lived locally and congregated in gran's to catch up with the local gossip. The night usually ended with a sing song,as everyone in the…
I had to suffer the comb biting into my scalp until I thought it would bleed. 'better than getting nits' she would say
Our house was a small terrace house,two up and two down with a tiny garden at the front. We had no hot running water or bathroom. Friday night was bath night. My mum and grandmother carried the big tin bath from the back yard into the livingroom…
I can honestly say my grandmother was the most important influence in my life
Thus started one of the happiest periods of my childhood years. My father was away with the RAFR. My mother took a job in a munitions factory,like so many other women at that time to help the war effort. My aunt worked in a large city centre…
Tags: grandmother, munitions factory, RAF, war