I WAS 13 in 1939, the day war broke out. My friend and I were climbing the Church Road School railings to see the London evacuees arrive.When the siren went did we run and we asked a lady if we could go under her table.

I WAS 13 in 1939, the day war broke out. My friend and I were climbing the Church Road School railings to see the London evacuees arrive.

When the siren went did we run and we asked a lady if we could go under her table.

One year later mum had a dream, the Germans were invading so she decided we three children must be evacuated. Me being the oldest she made me promise I kept with my sister who was only five.

I was excited it was going to be a holiday!

We went to Derbyshire to a school and we had a good home event though the woman who took us in was very strict.

After settling in, the day after I was playing ball and I could see a boy looking out of a nearby window, little did I know that he would one day be my husband.

In the meantime I wanted to go home. Mum had a vacancy put in a shoe shop for me, Dad said 'No' and thanks to him I would have been in the Wallers raid where my friend got killed.

So I stayed and worked in Mansfield. Time went on and I was married in 1946, had three lovely children and each year their holidays were spent in Derbyshire.

I've no regrets as I would not have met my wonderful husband and I thank my mum and dad for sparing me from the bombing.

PAULINE KNIGHT

May Road

Lowestoft