“We had to dig a great hole, as deep as possible, at the bottom of Mr Lely's garden. Putting the first curved galvanised piece at one end, the rest were rammed in tight to form the shelter. It was some protection against bombers and falling anti-aircraft gun shell fragments. They were then covered with earth and turf to camouflage them. In the front a small opening was left for an average sized person. Big people had to struggle hard to get in!”

“A deep step down into the garden then you put your left foot in and found the first step of a small wooden ladder. Then you wriggled yourself inside. Two wooden planks were placed on oblongs of pressed earth where there would be enough room for 3 to 4 people to sit facing each other. Mr Lely and I worked hard to finish the shelter.”

“Min and I were sleeping comfortably one night, when it seemed as if the world itself had exploded. I slept on the side nearest the upstairs landing. I suddenly found myself tipping over and over down to the bottom of the stairs; I ended up smashed against the front door. Meanwhile, Min did not go down like I did, but ended up jammed against the banister railings. She was screaming 'we've been hit!’

“We pulled ourselves together and went to hear what other people thought it was. Definitely no bomb; on the other side of the Chepstow Road on a wooded hill, the army had placed anti-aircraft guns.

It seemed a false alarm had alerted them and they had fired a massive barrage — but instead of upwards they fired just above the roofs of our houses. Perhaps the gunners were a bit too eager for battle! Later of course the real thing did happen, but that Anderson Shelter protected us.”

“I thought I would amuse us, keep the flag flying shall we say. I took my box of oils out. Above the entrance of the shelter there was a long flat board on which I painted YE RAT ‘OLE! On the left side I put 'Muzzo' Mussolini. I put Hitler on the right, the usual view of him in the papers with a neat little bit of hair under his nose.