Swindon in the Past Lane

In the final days of 1940, London received yet another pounding from the Luftwaffe during which serious damage was caused by fire in the historic City area. “An army of firemen, wardens, workers and civilian volunteers battled with the thousands of incendiaries showered on the district,” reported the Advertiser. Several incendiary bombs were dropped on St. Paul’s but Cathedral staff managed to prevent any serious damage. “At one time the Cathedral was ringed with fire,” the report continued.  Cheapside was badly damaged with building after building reduced to a scarred and blackened shell. Back home in Swindon things were much quieter.  Brides who walked down the aisle on the last Saturday in 1940 included Ida Muriel Green of 73 Rodbourne Road, who married Engine Room Artificer Reginald Rouse at St. Augustine’s Church.  Annie Seward Stratton of 7 Buller Street married L/Cpl Frederick Charles Monk at St. Barnabas’ Church while Margaret Louise Avery o...

I've just celebrated a birthday.  Not a significant birthday, but a birthday none the less and one I was quite happy to keep to myself until my daughter posted an effusive greeting on Facebook. There are days when I don't feel any different to twenty years ago - then I look in the mirror. When my mum was the age I am now she had lived through an economic depression, mass unemployment and two world wars.   She was unhappily married with a 16 year old daughter she didn't understand.  Nothing had gone quite according to plan, and I wasn't the daughter she would have been, given half the chance. She sewed curtains in our pokey back room, the Singer machine positioned beneath the window to make best use of the natural daylight.  She now wore her glasses all the time, no longer just for sewing and reading.   She had a wash and set at the hairdressers every fortnight and she wore false teeth. She loved day trips to the seaside, especially B...