Paulsgrove’s Own

Visiting the Archives and City Museum

On a visit to the city archives recently we went down to the Central Library to search through some of their records regarding the air raids that happened in Portsmouth during the second World War. This was of particular interest to me as my family were bombed out in one of the earlier raids that happened.

There were albums with photographs of many bombed buildings so it was hard to see exactly where they were; but it was sad to think of how many people had lost their lives or had been badly injured in those places.

My main interest when we got there was to fi nd that they had the records of the A R P wardens, so I was able to read the report regarding the day that we were bombed which was August the 24th 1940. The raid happened in the afternoon; luckily none of my family were hurt but the house was no longer fi t to live in. We were taken to a school in Copnor

Road and stayed there for several nights before being re-housed in Wymering. Living in Wymering was very different to living in the town, as the buses only came to Cosham, so you had a lot more walking to do.

While 1 was looking through the reports, 1 discovered that 119 people died in the raid & several more were badly injured.

Once we had moved to Wymering we found that we only kept in touch with the other neighbours that came with you. Also, to my great amazement I found a letter relating to my grandmother’s house that had been damaged quite badly. It was written to the city Architect,

asking for permission for some-one to enter the house to see if there was anything left to salvage & to obtain a voucher to help replace some of the furniture; this was the practice then so no money changed hands.

Although it brought back some sad memories of that time I found it very interesting to learn facts that you never knew before, & I think that most of us at theMonday club who went that day enjoyed it. Audrey Lawrence

Now part of the workshop, next to the City Museum, Shirley went to school in this building during the war.

Produced by members of Paulsgrove’s Monday club, in conjunction with Gail & Dan from 131 Design, this magazine is an initial outcome of a city-wide project called, ‘A Tale of One City’. The project is part of Portsmouth’s celebrations for the 200th anniversary of Dickens’ birth. The aim is to involve local communities in the celebrations by connecting them with the city’s records and archives. Local residents and groups will be taught how to access and use the archives for their own projects, as well as to explore some of the themes that interested the great writer himself, such as poverty, education, childhood and debt.

D i c k e n s C o m m u n i t y A rc h i v e P ro j e c t

Stella

Peggy Shirley Joan

Pat Joan

Betty AliceAudrey

Pat JuneBetty

Ladies from the Monday ClubPaulsgrove Community Centre

The Monday Social Club in Paulsgrove has been running for nearly eleven years and is a very happy club. It runs for 2 hours each Monday afternoon; in the fi rst hour we sometimes have a speaker on various topics. We have had the services of the Fire Brigade, and also the Police force, both of whom have given talks and advice on safety aspects around the house. We have also enjoyed craft instruction on various subjects. We enjoy a cup of tea, biscuits and a chat when we have a short break; we draw our raffl e, play a few games of Bingo - our social club is a happy couple of hours and allows people to meet socially. In summer we enjoy a coach trip; during the year we go out for a meal and during the Festive season go for a Christmas meal. We are all senior citizens and thank Portsmouth City Council for providing this fa-cility for a couple of hours meeting time a week. Many thanks go to Nick Bishop and Gerry Harper who fi rst started the club eleven years ago, and the ladies who look after us each week, especially enjoying our quizzes and shared laughter. Written by Shirley. Photography by Shirley, assisted by Joan

Doreen Vi

RoseIrisFrances

Ruby

.Much of the area that the Paulsgrove estate is built on used to be farmland. Paulsgrove House

was fi rst built in the mid 17th century. It was George Cooper, who lived there in the 1920’s, that built Paulsgrove racecourse. However, after the Second World War housing conditions on Portsea Island were very bad so in 1945 Portsmouth City Council purchased land from George Cooper in order to build new a new housing estate at Paulsgrove.

Houses were of different types including pre-fabricated bungalows and Easiform houses, all with hot water plumbed in and no more outside lavatories. The pre-fabs are still in occupation today.

Plan for Paulsgrove site

Aerial shot of Paulsgrove when fi rst built

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History of Paulsgrove in Maps and Plans

.

Paulsgrove site with plans for mixed dwellings

Layout of new roads

Front elevation of new streets

Front elevation of houses

Front elevation of new house

Newly built Grove Club

Paulsgrove’s open spaces before bulding began in 1946

Sunlight Soap, launched by Lever Brothers in 1884, was the world’s fi rst packaged, branded laundry soap. It had to be grated before use in Victo-rian times. Still a strong brand during the war and into the fi fties, it was eventually replaced by synthetically produced detergents.

Waste-saving tips: * Cut soap as soon as it arrives with a piece of string or steel wire, and place on the top shelf of the cupboard to dry before using. Dry soap lasts much longer than moist soap!* Place in a soap dish with holes in the bottom.* Keep left over soap suds from the washing to wash fl oors, steps or verandah, of for watering the roses.

Laundry tongs.

Flat irons came in different shapes and sizes for different uses. Small ones were used for collars and cuffs, whilst the round bottomed

ones were for the insides of nurses hats and caps. Some had a housing in the back where a piece of hot metal, called a slug would go. You had to have at least two on the go at a time, one to use, whilst the other was heating back up over a hot plate.

You would hold it with a pad or a cloth and spit on it to see when it was ready – if it fi zzled, it was hot enough. Electric irons started to be used in the ‘50s.

Butter pats used to shape the butter into oblongs. Dairies had their own pattern or crest on them.

Monday was the big wash-day when you would change the beds, do the sheets and all the washing for the family. It would take most of the day. The only items we tried to do during the week were the nappies. There was always a sense of achievement when you looked at a line of brilliant white nappies blowing in the breeze. If it rained, then they would be hung around the fi re and on the overhead, wooden, clothes hanger. We used a ‘post-wash whitener’ called Dolly Blue to get the nappies really bright.

A ‘Posher’ was used to push clothes down into the washing tub.

For toilet paper we cut newspapers into squares, put a hole through the corner and hung them up on piece of string.

A food-safe was a wooden box with a zinc mesh fronted lid. Perishable food items were placed inside and it would be put on the coldest wall outside – a natural, outdoor fridge.

We were much more careful about what we ate and when, for example you didn’t eat pork meat unless there was an ‘r’ in the month because that would be the summer months and pork went off quickly without refrigeration. It wasn’t available to buy in the butchers during the summer. We ate far more seasonally than we do now.

Top Tips for Saving Fuel* Use waterless cookers, and cook a whole meal in them at a time.* High pressure cookers are the greatest fuel saver of all time.* When you want a baked dish or cake, have a baked dinner or lunch that day.* Plan ahead - haphazard cooking makes fuel bills soar.* Turn the oven off 5 - 10 minutes early and leave the dish in, as a hot oven will continue the process. Whilst the new houses in Paulsgrove were built with inside loos and fi tted bathrooms, they still had outside toi-let. “I still use mine, 40 years later,” Joan tells Paulsgrove’s Own.

Around the home

1950s living room set, City Museum.

1940s kitchen cabinet, City Museum.

Simple Cooking Dodges – Prevent spoiling of food or utensilsUse an asbestos mat under a casserole or saucepan....Boil your water in a whistling kettle to prevent it boiling over, to save fuel and secure a good cup of tea....Add a tablespoon of water to the fat in a dripping tin before roasting to prevent burning....Have an automatic oven heat controller attached to the gas oven to save waste food and fuel....Prevent custards curdling, stand the dish in a baking tin containing a little hot water before putting in oven.

Household HintsPans, to clean: boil fruit peelings in the pan, and the marks will disappear. Never clean aluminium with soda, or gritty polishes - it will scratch. Ants, to get rid of: Dissolve twopennyworth of tartar emetic in 1tbs of water and add 1tsp of sugar. Set mixture in shallow dish where ants are.Baby, in pram: Make bag of strong warm materials, big enough for baby; tie firmly around his waist. Leave room for him to move legs. Put strap of safety harness round his waist, over bag & he will be snug & warm.Baby’s playbox: Take old packing case. Line bottom with piece of waterproof, pad bottom & sides & cover with bright material.Bed, damp, to detect: Place mirror between sheets for few mins. If misty when removed, bed is damp. Blankets, to store: Sprinkle with powdered alum to prevents moths.Books, to clean: Put clean piece of blotting paper over grease stain & press warm flat iron over to absorb.Bread, new, to cut: Dip bread knife into boiling water before cutting each slice.Coffee, when short of milk: Beat egg, put small portion into each cup, pour coffee on to it.Coat collar, to remove grease: Rub with cloth dipped in ammonia.Door, creaking: Rub hinges with lead of pencil, or lump of dripping.Fountain pen, to clean: Unscrew all parts, soak in vinegar for 30 mins, rinse.Shoe polish, to soften: Moisten with turps.Gas toaster, to make: Bore holes in biscuit tin lid, stretch wires over lid. To toast, place on ring with bread resting on wires.Glue, when dried in bottle: Put few drops vinegar in bottle and shake.Looking glasses, to clean: Rub with rag dipped in methylated spirits, give final polish with finely powdered blue.Mice holes, to block up: Corks dipped in turps always works.Floor polish, to make: Melt 2 wax candles or ends of candles, with half pound of shredded soap in 1 gill boiling water. Stir well. When cold, add 2d. turpentine & 2d. linseed oil. Keep covered.

Stale cake*Cut into fi ngers and put with apricot jam, use as basis for tipsy cake or trifl e.*Arrange small pieces in a glass dish, cover with custard, sprinkle with almonds & cover with stewed fruit.*Use the cake instead of bread-crumbs for putting on top of an apple or rhubarb charlotte.*Crumble fruit cake into a basin, moisten with egg & milk-’til same thickness as original mixture. Pack into buttered basin, cover, steam for 1 hour ‘til set. Serve with hot custard sauce, or white sauce.

Corned Beef Fritters

Treacle sponge

Bakewell tart

Mash potatoes

Macaroni Cheese

Spam

Soused Mackerel

Tinned Ham

Mushy Peas

Tongue, Brains

Cheese Pudding

Cooking time 30 minsQuantity 4 helpingsIngredients Half a pint milk or household milk2 eggs (2 level tbspns of dried egg mixed with 4 tablespoons water)4 oz grated cheese1 breakfast cup breadcrumbssalt and pepperquarter teaspoon dried mustard. Add the milk to the egg mixture and stir in the other ingredients. Pour into a greased dish and cook for about 30 minutes in a moder-ately hot oven until brown and set.

Fish Paste

3 oz cooked fresh-salted cod2 oz mashed potatoes1 oz softened margarine2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce pepper Flake the fi sh fi nely with a fork or put through the mincer and beat into the potato until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Then beat in the margarine and Worcestershire sauce and a little pepper. Use for sandwiches

Foodstuffs

Mock Goose

Ingredients 1 and a half lb Potatoes2 large cooking apples4 oz cheesehalf a teaspoon dried sagesalt and pepperthree quarters of a pint vegetable stock1 tablespoon fl our

Scrub and slice potatoes thinly, slice apples, grate cheese. Grease a fi reproof dish, place a layer of potatoes on it, cover with apples and a little sage, season lightly and sprinkle with cheese, repeat layers leaving potatoes and cheese to cover. Pour in half a pint of the stock and cook in a moderate oven for three quarters of an hour. Blend fl our with remainder of the stock, pour into dish and cook for another quarter hour. Serve as a main dish with a green vegetable.

Mock Goose

Ingredients Ingredients 1 and a half lb Potatoes2 large cooking apples2 large cooking apples4 oz cheese4 oz cheesehalf a teaspoon dried sagehalf a teaspoon dried sagesalt and peppersalt and pepperthree quarters of a pint three quarters of a pint vegetable stockvegetable stock1 tablespoon fl our

Scrub and slice potatoes thinly, slice apples, grate cheese. Grease a fi reproof dish, place a layer of potatoes on it, cover with apples and a little sage, season lightly and sprinkle with cheese, repeat layers leaving potatoes and cheese to cover. Pour in half a pint of the stock and cook in a moderate oven for three quarters of an hour. Blend fl our with remainder of the stock, pour into dish and cook for another quarter hour. Serve as a main dish with a green vegetable.

Stale cake

Corned Beef Fritters

Treacle sponge

Bakewell tart

Mash potatoes

Macaroni Cheese

Foodstuffs

Macaroni Cheese

Victoria Sponge

Bread & dripping

Making the Most of Left-overs

Whites of Eggs: Almond Macaroons, Cocoanut Macaroons, Lemon sponge, Meringues, Kokernut Kisses, Tutti Fruttis

Banana Whip: beat 2 egg whites ‘til dry & stiff. Stir in 3 tbs sugar, 1 tbs lemon juice & 2 tbs fruit syrup. Mix half pint banana puree, pile mixture up in sundae glasses, decorate with maraschino cherry & chopped pistachio nut.

Cold potatoes: add one part diced celery or cucumber to 2 parts diced potatoes. Sprinkle with minced onion to taste, moisten with salad cream then serve with cold meat.

Cold Greens: bubble & squeak, green vegetable cream soup.

Liver: Calf’s Liver Pate, Liver Terrapin, Liver Curry.

Oxtail , Pies

Luncheon Meat

Scotch Broth

Pigeon

Chips

Tripe & Onions

Pigs Trotters

Cottage Pie

Liver & Onions

Scotch BrothCut 2lb neck of Mutton into small squares. Chop bones in half. Put meat into pan with 1 quart cold water. Wash 1 carrot, 1 onion, half turnip and dice. Add to meat & bring to boil. Add 1tbs pearl barley, salt & pepper. Simmer for 2.5 half hours. 15 mins before serving, add 1 tbs chopped parsley. Serve the soup with the meat in the tureen, or let the neck of mutton be the next course.

Doreen with her original copy of Cookery Illustrated & Household Management, from 1936

Recipes from Cookery Illustrated reproduced with kind permission from IPC Media

Luncheon Meat

Calf’s Liver Pate, Liver Liver & Onions

Luncheon Meat

Liver & Onions

Ration books from Portsmouth Museum’s collection

Rabbit Pie

Ingredients: 2 rabbits. 3 or 4 slices pickled pork. 3 hard boiled eggs. Parsley, nutmeg, pepper & salt. Puff paste.

Choose young rabbits. Soak in warm water for an hour, rinse well. Put in pan, cover with cold water & bring to the boil. Remove and rinse. Put back into pan, cover with cold water. Season; an onion may be added. Bring to boil, simmer for half an hour.

Remove meat from the bones; put the bones back into liquor, bring to boil & simmer. Cut boiled pork into small pieces, and slice hard-boiled eggs. Make some good puff paste while stock is simmering.

Place a layer of the rabbit in bottom of a pie-dish, then a layer of the bacon and egg. Season. Continue with layers until the dish is fi lled. Add half-pint of the stock. Roll out the pastry & cover the pie. Trim, make a hole in the centre, then brush over the top with whole beaten-up egg.

Stand the pie in a moderate oven, and bake for 45 minutes. When the puff-paste has well risen, put the pie in the bottom of the oven. When cooked, fi ll the pie with the stock through the hole in the centre of the crust, garnish with parsley, and serve.

Own stories

I moved to Paulsgrove in June 1971 to a council house, because the house where we lived, in Binstead Road, Buckland was very damp. The air in Paulsgrove seemed so clear, it made our family really tired - until we got used to it.

I have seen many changes since I moved to Paulsgrove: shops have changed hands many times, the Post Offi ce moved into ‘Onestop’, the main Post Offi ce became McColls Newsagent and general shop. Near the football fi elds, a very nice play park has been cre-ated for children. More recently an adventure park has been built near the Grove Club.

The Infant and Junior Schools that my two youngest children attended have been demolished and new schools have been built further down Allaway Avenue. It has been said that the now

fl attened site, where the schools were, will be accommodating new housing.Joan Scott – Desborough Close.Pictures then & now.

I moved to Paulsgrove in 1949; into a fl at with my daughter and have lived there ever since – for 62 years! My daughter and 2 grandkids also live in Paulsgrove. I don’t think the area has changed that much; there are more people, more cars and more houses but essentially I think it is pretty much the same. Frances

My husband took this photograph when he was stationed in Singapore of what is quite possibly the last picture of Lady Mountbatten, who was visiting Singapore while on an inspection tour for the St John Ambulance Brigade. The next day she went on to British North Borneo where she died that night in her sleep. She was buried at sea off the coast of Portsmouth on 25th February 1960. Ruby

fl attened site, where the schools were, will be accommodating new housing.Joan ScottDesborough Close.Pictures then

Copy of original rent book

The 1948 Express Review line-up shown here, was an effort to stem dwindling cinema audiences because of the young

television service, wrote Brian Hartley in his letter to The News. Cinemas introduced live entertainment side by side with fi lms. Iris’s photos show some of those performers, including ‘Magic Man’ Harold Morton, her husband.

Double act Bobbie Cum-mings & Harold Morton, ‘46

Nan Baker

Harold Morton Bobbie Cummings

Ruby’s WalkA s soon as the last plate had been scraped, washed and

dried, the cloakroom clamour began. Overalls off. Coats on. Make-up and hair checked. Ruby joined the hub-bub of staff and visitors gathering in the hospital reception. The porter pulled an empty bed and waved his arm as if it were a scythe cutting through the crowd. He watched as the tiny cluster of cooks and washer-uppers made their way to the main door. “Good luck all.” He muttered as he pushed the empty bed through the vast swinging doors into the nearby ward. “Get home safe ... Patients still want their feeding time tomorrow!... Matron will be all-eyes!”

Ruby checked the time on a colleague’s watch. Six, exactly. She could see the charabanc waiting on the other side of the road; always on time, but so was she. A quick dash needed. No problem for an eighteen year old - one of the youngest of the kitchen staff at Knowle Hospital.

The journey through to Fareham town centre was un-eventful, as usual, but disembarking for her connection at the Southdown Motor Services bus stop, Ruby knew im-mediately that all was not as it should be. There was some-thing a little different about the chatter tonight.

“Started a few minutes ago, about six,” she could hear. “Looks like a big one this time.” She joined the small queue. Passengers were sparse tonight but the conversation was electric. The conductor was talking to a young couple sitting at the front of the bus.

“Difficult to know whether to pull over for a bit and douse the headlights. There must be a black-out in place, surely?” An old man huffed and answered for them, in broad Hampshire hog.

“Make no blind bit a’ difference in this full moon, you can be sure a’ that!” The conductor looked uneasy. Ruby watched him as he slid the small window behind the driver’s compartment to begin an earnest confab. For the first time, Ruby felt a sense of unease herself. There had been air-raids over Portsmouth before of course, most notably in the previous summer when the first casualties were recorded. July 10th, 1940 was when the war became real to Ruby and the people of Portsmouth. Before, it had been the “pho-ney” war. The most traumatic event for Ruby was saying a goodbye to her younger sister, Iris, as she was packed off to the Isle of Wight with the other evacuees. Ruby smiled as she remembered. That didn’t last long, she thought. Only four months before mum and dad decided they needed to be a whole family again, and Iris returned. That was when it felt “safe”, when everyone thought that the Luftwaffe had better things to do than bomb innocent civilians. Wrong, of course. Ruby remembered the newspaper reports of the eighteen that had perished in that first raid exactly six months and one day ago. She bit her lip and focussed her thoughts on the family.

The bus continued on its usual route along the north harbour road. Ruby could see the water ripple as it was

bathed in the glow of the full moon. The old man had been right. The city lights were out but the sky was alight. The search lights, the dash-dash-dash of the flak and, most dis-tressing of all, the unmistakeable glow of flares as they fell like hellish glow-worms from the night sky. Ruby was sure she could see fire and smoke further down the harbour. The small band of travellers exchanged glances but no words. Each and every eye lost in the orange-red haze that was beginning to envelope the southern-most aspect of the city.

Ruby, eager for a quick return home, breathed a sigh of relief as the bus drove across Portsbridge. This landmark signified that she had reached Portsea Island “proper”, so to speak. Only another three or so miles to home. Then she could join the family in the shelter if needs be. Everything would be alright. The relief was short lived as the conduc-tor made an announcement.

“Everyone off here please!” A moment of incredulity rendered the passengers speechless. The old man finally broke the silence.

“What you on about?! Some of us gotta’ few miles yet!”The conductor shrugged. “Sorry mate, but look at it!

You know full well we can’t go any further with this raid going on. It’s just too big this time.”

“So... How we supposed to get home then?” The young man asked what all were thinking. The conductor rolled his eyes. “Sorry mate. We’d take you if we could, but there’s no way we’re driving any further whilst Jerry’s raining bombs on us. There’s the black-out to consider, too!”

“Black-out?” The old man grimaced. “Don’t be daft man! With the full-moon? The fires are doing a pretty good job lighting up the town for the bombers!” The conductor looked helpless. He shrugged again. “Sorry,” he mustered, as he gestured for all to stand. Ruby stepped off the bus with trepidation. She turned the comer from the Hilsea bus depot and began her march towards home. Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all? From this part of the city there didn’t seem to be much action. The bus crew were being overcautious, weren’t they? Maybe the Germans had given up and gone home. It was just a Nazi scare tactic.

The half-mile to Hilsea Barracks seemed to take forever. Her silent, walking thoughts were suddenly shattered by a figure that stepped out of the shadows accompanied by a warm Scottish voice.

“Lassie! Where on earth d’ye think y’ going!” Ruby was startled but relieved to see the uniform beneath the great coat designed to keep out more than the January chill of the south coast. It belonged to a short stubby man; clearly a conscript who hadn’t been put through a soldier’s exercise programme too often. Ruby continued walking. Uninvited, but determined all the same, the portly Scotsman walked by her side.

“You should nae be out in this ... It’s too dangerous!” Ruby replied, as polite as ever, “I’m alright thank you ... I just need to get home.”

The Scot looked bemused. “Home, you say? That’s daft! We both need to find a shelter, and fast. There’s one back in the barracks. The guards ‘llet you in no problem!” Ruby marched on relentlessly. “No, you don’t understand ... I’ve got to get home. I need to make sure everyone’s safe.”

“And where is ‘home’ exactly?” He waved his arm in an

far away? Then she realised as she entered Kingston that the bombs had struck the road they walked on. The Blue Anchor pub was ablaze, as were several of the nearby shops and houses. The fire and rescue services were out in full force. Her companion seemed to take it his stride, but Ruby was horrified. If this was the scene so far north in the city, what about the city centre? What about her home?

A new, dreadful sound arose from the burning buildings. Ruby was unsure at first, but then it was unmistakeable. The howling and the barking of dogs; several of them. Ruby was unaware of any local kennels, but there must have been one here, she surmised. Poor creatures. Her new-found Scots friend seemed to understand her distress.

“Look, Ruby love, we can still find a shelter. There must be one here somewhere.” Ruby ignored this comment. She quickened her pace and tried to think happy thoughts. Mum, Dad, Iris, Cissy. All safe at home in the shelter of course? Of course. Her thoughts turned to brother Bill. On active service, like thousands, somewhere in the Atlantic. God protect him too - please? And what about Violet... and Vera and her Frank? Where was he? God protect him too.

Ruby walked faster than ever. “Got to get home ... Quickly!” She looked up at the moon just as a plane blocked its light for a split second. She saw the plane release its deathly cargo. Horrible, she thought. Ruby tried to remember something that Iris had told her once. Something funny that only a child could invent. What was it now? The story revealed itself as she gazed at the golden orb hanging in the night sky. Iris had been sitting on the doorstep outside the house. She was looking at the moon just as the air-raid siren began moaning. As clear as day, Iris could see Hitler hiding behind a bench on the moon, looking pompous as ever, laughing horribly as he threw bombs down on the city. Awful, of course, but so funny. Ruby laughed to herself in an effort to keep her thoughts away from the dreadful scene unfolding as she walked south. Her thoughts were once again interrupted by the warm Scottish voice.

attempt to slow Ruby’s pace. It worked. Ruby came to a halt. She collected her thoughts. “I live in Renny Road” This meant nothing to him. Ruby continued “It’s off Guildford Road.” He looked up at the southern sky. “Can y’ nae see the glow? What about the bombers? Surely y’ can see them?!”

Ruby shrugged her shoulders and resumed her march. With an exasperated sigh he caught up with her again. “Ok! Ok ... if that’s what y’want, then I’ll walk with thee ... But first, you’d be better wearing this.” The Scotsman took off his helmet and placed it on Ruby’s head. Ruby thanked him and laughed as he adjusted the straps as they were still walking.

“Jesus! In in a hurry and nae mistake!” Ruby and her new companion walked together as they headed further in to the city. She was acutely aware of the Scotsman talking incessantly. Something about being posted with his regiment and missing home. This was interspersed with questions about Ruby. How old was she? What did she do for a living? What did she do with her evenings? Did she have anyone “special” in her life? What was her name? It was all a blur really. Ruby answered as best she could in the circumstances. She distinctly heard him compliment her “lovely name” and she thanked him for it.

As they strode past Kingston Crescent in the approach to Kingston Road it was as if they’d walked on to the surface of a different planet. From this new vantage point, not only could she see the sky’s dreadful glow, but also the German bombers. Her ears were assaulted by the ominous hum of the propellers and the whistle of the incendiaries as gravity followed its physical laws.

It was then that Ruby also noticed the smell. Not the glorious aroma of winter bonfires or smouldering coals through the chimney-stacks - not this time. This was the stench of heavy smoke. Horrible, pungent, burning brick. Ruby was disorientated. She knew that there was a good two miles to walk home to, what appeared to be, the centre of the raid. How on earth could she smell the burning from so

“The smoke’s getting worse ... And there could even be a gas attack to go with the fire bombs.” He looked at Ruby. He thought it remarkable that she had such a resolve to return to her family and not seek shelter. She spoke as if reading his thoughts. “It’s no good, I just have to get home. If we stopped and sheltered, I’d just be in a panic and I’d worry about them all night... And so would Mum and Dad if they didn’t know where I was.”

“I still think a bit of worry or panic is better than being hurt or ... well, even worse.” He paused. “But I can see that y’ nae gonna’ change y’ mind. Here, I think it best y’ wear this.” As he spoke, he took a gas-mask from his shoulder bag and began to fit it over Ruby’s head as they walked. They laughed again.

Home was near. As they approached Lincoln Road, a massive blast stopped them in their tracks. The roar was deafening, the light blinding, as the lower sky appeared to burst in to flames a few streets ahead. Ruby began to panic.

“My house! I’m sure that’s Mum and Dad! The street’s taken a direct hit; I just know!” The Scotsman placed an arm around her. He looked worried himself, but was quick to reassure his new friend.

“Where did y’ say y’ lived? Did y’ nae say that it was this way?” He gestured to the east.

“Surely, that blast was too far over for y’ house?” Ruby regained her composure and nodded. “Yes, you’re right. I live over here.”

“Aye, look ... It’s the main Fratton Road that’s been hit. The Co-op’s alight!” The two followed the road to the next junction where a left turn had never felt such a relief to Ruby. She quietly muttered to herself, wishing the bombs away; wishing they would all miss and drop in the Solent or the harbour.

They arrived at Renny Road. Ruby was almost tearful as she saw number twenty-nine was still standing. The walk had taken them the best part of an hour. In all that time, Ruby had been bottling up everything. All emotions, all sense of panic, were now beginning to rise up inside her. The Scot was still talking as they arrived at the door. Ruby rattled and banged as hard as she could. She pulled the gas-mask from her face.

“Dad!. .. Mum!. .. It’s Ruby .... Quick, please, open the door!” Bill and Amy Hyson were relieved to hear their daughter’s voice from the other side of the door. Bill marched to the door. “Ok love,just a second!”. Bill turned the knob of the Yale lock and pulled the door open. Ruby and her companion took a step over the threshold as a house opposite number twenty-nine, about eight houses down to the right, took a direct hit.

If time could be frozen then Ruby would be ideally placed to describe it. A split second of hell unleashed in a small terraced street in a dockyard city. The force of the blast blew Ruby and the Scotsman into the small square hall of the house. If Bill had not been standing there, he would have been blasted to the fl oor. This signalled an outpouring from Ruby. She screamed hysterically. The Scot regained his composure and Bill settled his daughter with a good old fashioned slap in the face. Ruby burst in to tears and fell in to her father’s arms.

“It’s alright love ... It’s all ok now ... there, come now, come on Ruby love.” As Ruby sobbed in to her father’s shoulder, a heap of ash fell from the chimney into the living room fi replace, causing a fl ash of fl ame in an otherwise dying fi re. This time, it was Iris’ turn to become hysterical. No doubt overcome with the stress of the evening’s events, the pile of ash, to Iris, meant that an incendiary device had fallen down the chimney. Her screams brought Bill in to action once again.

“Whoa! It’s ok...It’s not a bomb love, it’s just ash...Look!” Seconds passed as the commotion and hysteria subsided. Bill looked at each of them in turn.

“Come on, I think there’s some-one out there in a worse state than us.” Bill, Amy, Cissy and the Scotsman joined the neighbours to help dig through the rubble in the house opposite. Garden tools, cutlery - any item that came to hand was used in a frantic effort in the search for survivors. Ruby sat, lost in thoughts of the events of the last few hours. She knew that this evening had brought grief to so many. She gave thanks that, despite walking in the midst of devastation, she was still here to tell the tale.

Songs that won the war! Paulsgrove Monday Club’s Wartime Number One was ‘We’ll Meet again’ by Vera Lynn. It was often played at the end of dances.

Some of the old favourites...I Did What I Could With my Gas Mask – George Fornby

There’ll Always Be an England – Alfred PiccaverNimrod (from Enigma Variations)

London Pride – Noel CowardRun Rabbit Run – Flanagan & Allen

Jerusalem.....Rule BritanniaThe Spitfi re Song – Harry Kaye with Joe Loss & his Orchestra

Praise the Lord & Pass the Ammunition - Harry Kaye & Joe Loss Coming in on a Wing & a Prayer – Anne Shelton

We’re Gonna Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line – the Two Leslies

A Nice Cup of Tea – Binnie HaleSing as We go – Gracie Fields

This is The Army, Mr Jones – Irving Berlin‘V’ Stands for Victory – Margaret Eaves

Adolf – Billy Cotton & his BandPainting the Clouds with Sunshine – Jack Hylton

Get in Your Shelter – Arthur AskeyLand of Hope and Glory

Goodnight Sweetheart – Al BowllyRum & Coca-Cola – The Andrews Sisters

In the Mood – Glenn Miller Everything Stops for Tea – Jack Buchanon

The Prune Song – Frank CrumitWhispering Grass – The Ink Spots

Say a Prayer for the Boys Over There – Denna DurbinFools Rush In – Frank Sinatra

Chattanooga Choo Choo by Glenn Miller & His Orchestra. Club members remember dancing to that at

the Savoy and also at the Embassy in Fawcett Road; if you went to the Embassy on a Saturday you got a free ticket

for entrance on Tuesday night.

Audrey & Pat looking at fashions from the ‘40s

Before the war lots of women made the clothes for both them-selves & their children, mainly because material was cheaper & you could get paper patterns in all the latest styles. For special oc-casions you bought a ready made outfi t, but it was always kept for best afterwards, and had to be well looked after.

When the war started, you could get most items of clothing at fi rst but when the government brought in the clothing coupons, you need-ed to be very careful how you used them, because both underwear & shoes were included.

The fashions at the start of the war had lots of pleats & frills but once they wore out, the fashions became rather plain, as the gov-ernment asked women not to have such elaborate styles & to take into consideration the length.

As many women were doing a mans job, the wearing of trousers became popular - it helped to keep your legs warm when you went down the air raid shelters.

There was a lot of swapping clothes going on in those days & you would unpick hand knitted clothes, washed the wool & re-knit the wool up into some thing else.

This was because you had to give up cou-pons for the new wool.

Many brides who got married once the clothes rationing was in force, borrowed their wedding dress & veil, like-wise with the bridesmaids dress. If you didn’t know anyone your size, the most popular thing was to wear a costume that could always be worn afterwards.

By the end of the war silk stock-ings & nylons began to appear in the shops - we were quite prepared to queue for hours to be lucky enough to get a pair.

Fashion began to change over to the ‘New Look’ as it was called. It was a style that came over from France - the House of Dior - it was such a lovely shape to aim for after our stale old war-clothes.

In the fi fties the clothes from America became very popular, with

full skirts and net petticoats under-neath to make them stand out.

By the time the sixties came in the fashion in dresses made a big change, as Mary Quant brought in the Mini skirt, & tights also made their appearance. An-other style then was the plain Shift dress; I made them for myself & my daugh-ters. They were so simple & easy to make.

I think that most people who read this will be able to remember all their own wardrobes of those times so I will close this article & hope it brings back memories to lots of people.

Audrey & Pat

Fashions from Forties

them for myself

ters. They were

able to remember

Fashion began

The fashions at the start of the

Picture of Audrey, taken in 1956 in St Davids in Wales, whilst on holiday. I am wearing a blue and white ginham dress that I made, with white sandals. The dress is fairly plain, sleeveless and has a fi tted waist and stiffened petticoats. I used to make clothes for all the family.

Charles Dickens Criss-Cross Puzzle AnswersAcross: 1. Quilp 6. Jack Dawkins 8. Bleak 10. Saint Marys 13. Forster 15. Mr Bumble 16. Elizabeth 18. Boz 21. Ellen Ternam 23. Marshalsea 24. Ten 25. Hogarth 26. Rochester 27. Fagin 28. JuneDown: 2. Phillip Pirrip 3. Squeers 4. Bullseye 5. John Huffam 7. Bart 9. Pickwick Papers 11. Editor 12. Primrose 14. Scrooge 15. Mileend Terrace 17. Edwin Drood 19. Fanny 20. Yorkshire 22. Amy

Pat in her summer dresses in the 1960s.

With her 9 year-old brother when I lived in Norwich Road, Wymering. This dress was made for me by a ‘Miss Amy’; it was dusky-pink crepe and was actually my wedding dress. I didn’t have enough ration coupons for a wedding dress and a going away outfi t, so I had this made. I wore it with a pill-box hat and carried a huge bouquet made up of pink roses and blue Scabious.

All contributions from the group, who had no former experience in what they were doing necessarily, but lots of enthusiasm and willing-ness to learn. They all thoroughly enjoyed the production and have an idea that they would like to pro-duce a magazine of some sort on a more regular basis, as part of the club’s activities.

Photographers: Shirley & Joan (Scott)Fashion: Audrey & PatCrossword: Iris & RubyOriginal books from DoreenJournalists: Audrey, ShirleyTrue life stories: Ruby, Iris, Joan, FrancesEntertainment: Rose, Ruby

Editorial team

Charles Dickens Crossword

Across1. Daniel __ , villainous husband to Betsy in “The Old Curiosity Shop”6. Artful Dodger’s real name (Oliver Twist)8. “ House”, Dickens’ ninth novel10. Dickens was christened at this Portsmouth Church13. John, biographer friend of Dickens15. Oliver Twist character who declares “The law is an ass!”16. First name of Dickens’ mother18. Dickens’ pen name21. Name of Dickens’ mistress23. Dickens’ father was sent to this debtor’s prison24. Number of children born to Charles and Catherine25. Catherine, Dickens’ wife26. Location of Gads’ Hill Place, Dickens’ last home (town)27. Leader of the gang of pick-pockets in “Oliver Twist”28. Month of Dickens’ deathCompiled by Iris

Down2. Great Expectations’ Pip’s real name3. Wackford , headmaster of Dotheboys Hall (Nicholas Nickleby)4. Bill Syke’s dog (Oliver Twist)5. Dickens’ second and third name7. Lionel, composer of “Oliver Twist” musical9. First Novel11. Dickens’ job at “The Daily News”12. One of Dickens’ favourite fl owers14. He called Christmas “Humbug!”15. Place in Portsmouth street where Dickens was born17. Eponymous title character of Dickens’ last, unfi nished novel19. First name of Dickens’ eldest sister20. Location of Dotheboys Hall in “Nicholas Nickleby” (County)22. Little Dorrit’s fi rst name

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1. Daniel __ , villainous husband to Betsy in “The 1. Daniel __ , villainous husband to Betsy in “The