Bradford resident Winnie was a pupil at St Joseph’s School in her childhood years during the war.
“I was evacuated from Bradford to Skipton,” says Winnie. “I lived on Brougham Street, and I was away from home for two years, but we stayed close as a family. Mum and my brothers lived at one side, and I lived at the other.”
“These were scary times. The sound of sirens signalled an air raid, and we had to get to the shelters as soon as they went off. This was usually when planes were spotted. There was no time to waste, or grab anything, you had to get in straight away and you couldn’t leave until the ‘all clear’ sounded.”
“On VE Day, there were parties everywhere. Food was still rationed, but the women baked as much as they could. It was a lovely atmosphere, everyone was so happy.”
Winnie had many friends at school, one who she married when she was 21. Winnie smiles as she remembers him. “His name was Squire,” she said “and my uncle was called Noble. His family must have had a thing for titles.”
Winnie has two sons who visit often, Chris and Simon and four grandchildren, Claire, Molly, Courtney and Mason.