At the rear of our house in Caldy Road was a large field, full of weeds and grasses. The whole area was very uneven due to the large amounts of soil deposited by the builders of Caldy Road.

My garden backed onto 'The Field' as everyone called it and this is where most of my childhood was spent playing with other kids from our road.

During the summer months the field housed dens made from anything, i.e. old carpets, corrugated steel, lino, planks of wood - in fact it wasn't uncommon to take something out of your house to furnish the den.

Once the autumn dark nights had set in and you were back in school the field had other uses, mainly for Bonfire Night. I think this was my favourite time of year as this meant Christmas was around the corner.

There were usually two very large bonfires in the field and two sets of children were very concerned in who could build the biggest. To be involved in the building of the bonfire was a major responsibility to me and I would go to great lengths finding as much rubbish and kindling as possible.

One of the best places for wood was from the trees on the riverbank of the Taff, so off a gang of kids would go armed with choppers, saws and hatchets.

Hailey Park had broken down fences in certain locations and once we had gained access, and found a suitable tree, everyone would work like beavers taking down the overhanging branches.

We always had a look-out just in case the Parkie spotted us and blew his whistle, and then it was an almighty rush to finish the job and get the branches over the broken fence.

We would all take a turn to drag the branches to our bonfire - we were always careful to make sure no other gangs of kids were around to take our wood for their bonfires.

I can remember praying every night that it wouldn't rain on November 5th. From my bedroom window I could see the bonfire and I was one of the 'guards' watching that no other kids from other streets were around pinching from our bonfire! This job I took very seriously and many times I was involved in stone-throwing fights trying to protect our bonfire.

When Bonfire Night finally arrived and we had gone around looking over garden walls at everyone else's fireworks and festivities and the air was thick with smoke, everyone congregated around our bonfire.

Once the Guy was put carefully on top and the fire was lit all the hard work and care was all worth it.

Shirley Evans (nee Hanford) - Cardiff - January 2007