Washing day

Monday was always traditionally washing day. It started early in the morning. The first job was to fill the big iron boiler with water; this was located in the back kitchen. It was brick built with a fire hole at the base and a small iron door. After filling the boiler the fire hole was cleaned out and the fire kindled.

The washing was put into the boiler and, when it had been boiled other utensils used in washing were used : dolly peg, dolly tub, and last, but not least, the mangle with its large wooden rollers and a very large iron wheel with which to turn it - no automatic washers in the days; and of course, Robin starch for the shirt collars. When wearing the collars, one took great care not to turn one's head quickly as this may have caused decapitation!  

V.E. day

1945 saw the end of the war, which started on September 3rd, 1939. V.E. day as it is known (Victory in Europe) was a day of much rejoicing.

Before the war, shops like our newsagents were allowed to sell sweets, tobacco , etc and also fireworks. With the outbreak of hostilities, the police were empowered to seize any fireworks (rockets in particular) in case these were used to signal enemy aircraft. The police called at the shop one day and took away lots of fireworks.  He strapped the rockets to the crossbar of his bicycle and others from large biscuit tins into a pannier on the back. What he did not know was that we had numerous large biscuit tins filled with other types and when VE day came we did a roaring trade with them. I was very fortunate as I was able to have a lot to myself.

In Granville Square, we built a large bonfire made from railway sleepers acquired from the fence of the railway line which ran from Shelton Bar to Deep Pie. At one stage ,when the fire was at its height, a fire engine came and asked us not to make It so big as the heat was melting the overhead telephone wires and causing chaos. The fire burned for three days and nights but times were happy.

Rationing continued on for a number of years after that. When I recall how very little chocolate, citrus, fruits and bananas there were about, I am sure if such a shortage came about again, the society of today would not cope with the situation.
Making do with a stick of rhubarb and a bit of sugar in a paper was very common. Also, when the greengrocer had pomegranates in his shop there was always a rush to buy one. We spent many happy hour with a pin eating one.