I soon realised that despite the sadness of the children being away from their families it was an amazingly happy place.

An excellent volunteer with a good social conscious. Thank you for Jo

He worked diligently for many years not only for Welfare Rights but, also for Guide Dogs Associated. Audrey Ellis.

About a day later there was a knock at the door and mum answered it. There was dad in FSMO (Full Service Marching Order), in other words full kit bag, small pack, respirator, ammunition pouches, tin hat, rifle, bayonet and water bottle. I could hardly see him. My first words were *+"Can I look at your rifle please?" so he showed me how to maintain it.

I couldn't go to Grammar School as dad couldn't afford the uniform. I joined the RAF at the age of eighteen. A friend asked me what I was doing during The Battle 0f Britain weekend.

I am trying to give a better understanding regarding what life has been like over the last hundred years. All these stories are precious records regarding how our lives have changed. Please let me know what you think. Audrey-Ellis

We had spent the night in a shelter. The following morning we returned home. As mum was walking she kept repeating "I wonder if our house will still be there!" We discovered that five houses down from our house was a Parachute stuck on a chimney. I think that this was enough for mum. As attached to the Parachute was a bomb. This was enough for my parents as they packed our cases and walked away from our home.

I was in the NAAFI Club. Some sailors had arrived from a Royal Navy ship. They had been sailing the Mediterranean. A young man asked me to dance and then he. asked me to go for a drink. Not long afterwards he asked me to marry him.

I will never change my politics, nothing is perfect and no one is perfect. Life is temporary. Everything around you is temporary, so do what you can. I don't know what will happen tomorrow.

Dad would go shooting if a child had been taken by a wild animal, he would go out and shoot it. We had walls around the houses. Two men, with guns, would always be on guard.

I was born in Barry, South Wales. During the Second World War, we could see bombs being dropped on Barry Docks. I got a job with British Lion Film Distribution, in Cardiff, as a secretary. When my husband died, I moved to Raunds to be near my son and daughter - in- law. Later, I became unwell and they now take very good care of me. I look forward to coming to Cando-Care now.

There were fields nearby where women were potato picking. Sadly, they were bombed and all the women were killed. They were hit by doodlebug. You would only know that you were about to be bombed when the engine cut out.

The stories and memorabilia became Memories of Finedon. Finedon is a town in Northamptonshire. I had not intended to write a book but having gathered so much information that the book had to be printed. Thank you Dale. I don't know where you are living now but you did a brilliant job. A friend spent so many hours assisting me in presenting the cover of Memories of Finedon. He also aided me with page layout. It would not have been the same book without his help. Life stories are so important...

These accounts, you will see, come from people living in different parts of the country. Each has helped to build a valuable picture as to how life has changed.

I listened to Jim at Burton Latimer Library. I can still see him in my minds eye.

Which was my home town, when a soldier came marching up to me by saying "Hello young Bailey" He took me to my own house, for as you may have guessed by now he was my father.

A daughter recalls how her father made opera boots for the stage and of her seeing Eroll Flynn at The Derngate Northampton. Now the wireless plays a big part in everyone's life with Children's Hour, on the Home Service from 5pm

In later life he became profoundly death, which he found to be more of a problem than his blindness.

Every Monday father's suit and boots and the girls Sunday clothes were taken to the Pawn Shop. When Nan was 12 she was sent to Elm Court Residential School For The Blind.

Never find my lost family. I decided helping to leave some history

There are over fifty stories from Nan, born 1904 and 1907. Social history during times of peace and war, offering a unique understanding as to how our world has changed over the last hundred years.

It wasn't as if I'd attempted anything so scary. Yet, somehow I buried self doubt and began my journey. The reader might be wondering why l would even think about challenging myself. I still wonder about this myself. I think my main thought was if my blind parents, James and Brenda had faced opposition from all quarters then my intention was put firmly into place. I learnt so much about myself. One of my interview's was to take place at the other end of Finedon. I knocked the door of a house...

Len Warner born 1927.My brother was a engine driver. He had passed the eleven plus but mum couldn't pay for his uniform. As he had always dreamt of becoming a train driver he wasn't disappointed about not having a grammar school education. I used to cycle for the ARP in Wellingborough. The unit was based behind what is now Wellingborough library. I clearly remember the Bank Holiday Monday when a German bomber dropped a bomb in Market Street. Four women and two men and one boy were killed and...

My grandfather made Windsor Chairs-he would engrave his initials on the bottom of the chair. My uncle was head gardener for Benjamin Disraeli.