Wartime Burniston

There are many other memories of my wartime childhood in Burniston. One day I was playing in Burniston Gardens with other kids, and noticed that a convoy of tanks had arrived and stopped on the main road. Of course we went to take a close look at them, and a soldier lifted me up into the tank for a look around. Another day, I heard the drone of planes and looking up, I saw bombers towing gliders above the moors west of Burniston.

I can remember quite a few names of places on my way to school, and some of the kids I played with. I may not get the name spelling correct. Dickie Pease and his brother lived quite close, as did Stephen Megginson, John Turner, Ann Turner and Mary Turner. Tony Edwards lived in a house on the main road. Ann Grimwood's house was on the main road before the house behind the white railings, where Mr Tranmer lived. Mr Tranmer had many aerials erected around the house. He was an amateur radio operator-and maybe he was helping with the war effort.

On my way to school I passed the Three Jolly Sailors pub, and Sedman's butcher shop, the Harry Chou sawmill, and Milestones post office and shop. Emily Milestone delivered the post to us. All she had at the time was a bike. At the top of the hill was a tailors shop, but I cannot remember the owner's name. Then there was Woods garage, with the palm trees at the front, and further along after Tidd's corner, where the Bean family lived. Bob Sollits garage was next to where the Community Center is now. A little further along was Nellis's cobblers shop. On the other side of the road before I reached school, was a house where the owner ran a bakery – all I can remember was how good the rock buns were when I could afford one.