Once Upon A Time......

[Dennis McGuckin]

My first time in a cage.
Sadly not the last!

[John F Collier]

#21That big one must have been terrifying for baby, mum was given one for me and she said I just wouldn't have it and screamed the place down
As I got older I can remember having a gas mask in a cardboard box with string on it and taking it to school with me, but I don't remember if it was a mickey mouse one or not. After the war mum got a job as a cleaner for a Jewish French Canadian family and he was a millionaire, they let mum take me to work with her during the school holidays. They had a huge house with a tennis court swimming pool and indoors gym They had two sons around about my age and I was accepted as their friend and used to play with them and all of their toys, ii was a wonderland after all the bombsites etc. When Christmas came they gave me a pair of Jacko roller skates that had rubber wheels, "WOW" none of us had seen these before
and suddenly I was king of the pavement gliding along with all the old steel wheels clattering behind me trying to catch up, what a life eh. JC

[happy daze john in oz]

For some time after swallowing the anchor lived in bed sit land in north London, Maida Vale, in a single room. A bed, cupboard, fire, drawers, chair and small table and a window that would not close correctly, lovely draught.
One bathroom on second floor to service 20 people. It was a 3 storey Victorian house set out as 15 single and double room apartments. The only toilet was there as well. But I was lucky, outside my room a closet with a sink and cold water tap. Getting up in the middle of the night was not a problem for me.

[gray_marian]

#24, Almost an ensuite John

[gray_marian]

#21&23, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au_KFn_9HCg


Anyone remember the prams?

[John F Collier]

#26 Thanks for that Marian, I've saved that to my favourites locker, for me it was the best video of it's type I've seen. So many memories there and it was lovely to see all of those innocent fresh faces, I can imagine them being lined up in assembly and being told to wear their Sunday best for the occasion, and to be on their best behaviour. I found on my old schools web site a 1949 class photo of my class in the juniors, it was amazing to see
our old headmaster and two teachers and of course the kids. One evening after an air raid mum took us up the road to see what had happened and
I can remember seeing the Wardens in their helmets and uniforms with a sniffer dog they were searching among the debris for survivors, little did we know that it would soon be our turn. These memories are literally engraved in my mind, some good some bad. cheers JC

[John F Collier]

For some time after swallowing the anchor lived in bed sit land in north London, Maida Vale, in a single room. A bed, cupboard, fire, drawers, chair and small table and a window that would not close correctly, lovely draught.
One bathroom on second floor to service 20 people. It was a 3 storey Victorian house set out as 15 single and double room apartments. The only toilet was there as well. But I was lucky, outside my room a closet with a sink and cold water tap. Getting up in the middle of the night was not a problem for me.

It's easy to forget these places exist, but makes you appreciate more what you have managed to achieve, I bet you wasn't the only one to sneak in to that closet. LOL cheers JC

[Keith Tindell]

Looking at that clip bought back memories as a kid, my memory is not good, but in the clip the "all clear siren" was the same as the call to shelter, I,m sure that the all clear was a rise and fall in siren tone.Can anyone else remember?. Kt

[John Gill]

It's easy to forget these places exist, but makes you appreciate more what you have managed to achieve, I bet you wasn't the only one to sneak in to that closet. LOL cheers JC

There'll be one or two ex ucl waiters who sneaked into a closet and are still inside!