Archives

Child Of A Bygone Era by Peter Hunt

Nov8

Fascinating

Child Of A Bygone Era by Peter Hunt is a fascinating account of the author’s early life.

Born in 1940, Peter Hunt spent his early years in Britain before moving to Hong Kong after the war and then returning to Britain for boarding school.

The reader is treated to glimpses of the author’s life in these very different environments. We hear how he travelled on the Queen Mary as well as freight ships – very different modes of transport.

What particularly caught my attention was the mention of a newsagent called Stan Hawkins who was a Poole Pirates supporter. I have watched the Pirates race when I was on holiday. As a speedway supporter for over forty years, Peter Hunt’s mention of speedway and what it is, was a real treat for me.

Continue reading →

The Concentration Camp by Vera Mertens

Jul31

Horrifying

The Concentration Camp by Vera Mertens is the powerful and horrifying true story of the author’s father’s wartime experiences.

Her father was just a teenager living in Belgium as war broke out. He had already witnessed the damaging effects of World War I on his father. As the Nazis marched in, the horrors from the past loomed large.

The author’s father was a brave young man. He stood up for what was right and consequently ended up in a concentration camp.

We hear of the horrors of man’s inhumanity to man. Deprivation, starvation and terrible cruelty – those who survived the camps would be forever haunted by their experiences. The reader is horrified. It is so hard to imagine why anyone would be so evil and cruel, never mind a whole nation of supposedly educated beings.

Continue reading →

Lucky Jack by S. Bavey

Jul23

A Fascinating Account Of A Life

Lucky Jack by S Bavey is a marvellous read. It is the biography of the author’s grandfather who lived a long and eventful life from 1894-2000.

The book is fascinating and absolutely amazing to read of all the events that happened over the course of a very long life – several monarchs, the invention of the car and television, talking pictures, two world wars, walking on the moon.

Lucky Jack is the story of a full life lived well. There were tragedies and there was also some luck involved. We ‘hear’ all the events through Jack’s voice as the book is written in the first person. Jack has a very personable style, making it feel as if we are hearing from a dear friend.

Continue reading →

A Young Girl’s War by Sheila Nelson

Jul6

A Snapshot In Time

A Young Girl’s War by Sheila Nelson is a powerful account of the author’s experience of living in London during World War II.

Sheila Nelson was born in 1931 and has a vivid snapshot of memories of the war as it impacted her childhood.

Evacuated early on to Brighton proved to be a traumatic event. Although safe from any bombs falling, being isolated from her family was awful and Sheila Nelson soon returned home. Incidentally my Dad was also evacuated early on to Llandudno and he hated it, wrote letters home daily and was popped back on a train to Birmingham after just two weeks!

Whilst the author’s family house did not have any direct hits, her road did and therefore her house continually suffered damage such as the glass being blown out and doors being blown off hinges (coincidentally this happened to my Dad’s house too). At one time the family house was uninhabitable and Sheila Nelson’s family sofa surfed between relatives.

Continue reading →