During the year of 1943, I was born into a world of chaos and global destruction, which was on an unprecedented scale. It was to my parent's credit that I had no idea of what was going on. I remember seeing a lot of people dressed similarly, in their military uniforms, indicative of the millions caught up in this catastrophe.

My Dad had served in the Army and had seen service in both World Wars of the 20th Century, but was released from active service during the latter half of the war owing to his skills, which were of use in the steel industry at Port Talbot. Father had served as a Warrant Officer in the Royal Engineers, and had played a wonderful part in the happy, if somewhat materially deprived nature of my childhood.

A vivid recollection at a very young age was standing in a queue, holding Mothers' hand, my height being lower than the tabletop, along with dozens of other people who were either waiting for our government allotted 'ration books' or identity cards, which were compulsory during this era. The old National Schools at Port Talbot was used for the administrative purpose of issuing thousands of civilians with a limited amount of tokens or 'coupons' which formed the meagre food and clothing allowances. Materially we had nothing except the bare necessities of survival which were a wonderful reflection upon the culinary and domestic skills of the adult women of the war generation, who often went without food in order to feed their families.

There were outings with my friends 'up the mountains' of the Afan Valley in which I was born. We kids climbed the local hills with a 'picnic' composed usually of a bottle of water and a jam sandwich. The alternative to this would-be 'bread and dripping' which was composed of melted animal fat from whatever was being roasted and cooled, usually stored in a pudding basin, and with lots of this spread on sometimes very stale bread and smothered in salt, considered to be a great delicacy.

Homemade clothes were a feature, hand stitched by Mother, due to difficulties in obtaining ready made clothes. I have memories of 'gymslips' made either from old clothes donated by relatives or bought from 'second hand' shops which proliferated. White school blouses were often made from old shirts. These garments were unpicked, washed, pressed and a paper pattern, laid on top the material. These creations were worn over a fleecy lined garment known as a 'liberty bodice' and long fleecy lined navy knickers, which usually drooped below my knees! Woollen cardigans and knee length stockings were knitted by hand from old woollen garments obtained at jumble sales, unpicked, washed and re-knitted.

Father and Mother grappled with material deprivation and global tragedy, giving me a loving idyll, my childhood, for which I will ever thank them.