A Wartime Childhood in Blackburn: An Interview with Barbara Riding (nee Brett)

4th August, 2020

Barbara Riding grew up in Blackburn during the Second World War and here she shares her memories and stories of being a child during World War Two. Barbara talks about what life was like in the family home, at school and playing in the local area. We hope you enjoy listening to Barbara’s memories and stories as much as we have done. Barbara has also provided us with some photographs that capture memories of her wartime childhood.

A selection of Barbara’s photographs and memories:

George VI letter –  A copy of the letter sent by King George VI to children after the war.

Barbara – This a photo of Barbara Riding (nee Brett)   at 88  and  Barbara Brett
in her Brownie uniform as it was in those  days aged 9.

Air raid sheltersTop left:   Underground shelter preserved in Stockport Museum.
Underground shelter dug for children of St Silas’s School in 1939. 
Arched roof like a tunnel with benches to sit on and latrines in the
corner.  Thank goodness we never had to use them.

Top right:  A cartoon concerning a Morrison shelter.  We had a budgie
which we taught to say ” Hitler’s a bad man!” We were lucky not to have
any air raids, but when the siren went off we sat under the stairs and put
the budgie under the shelter.

Bottom two:  Photos of two Morrison shelters I took off the TV. My
father got one as he was unable to go to a brick shelter in the school
yard if there was an air raid.  We used it as a dining room table for
several years.

Charity poster – We collected money for charities during the war such as  Aid for
Warships,  Aid for Russia, Aid for rubber dinghies for shot down
airmen.  This is a poster I designed  and won a prize for in a
competition for school children in Blackburn in 1942  during Aid for
China week.

Ministry of Food Cook Book –  Lord Woolton was the Minister of Food during the war.  This was the Ministry of Food cook book which my mother used to use. We used to
listen to a five minute broadcast every morning called “The Kitchen Front” which gave hints and ideas on how to cope with your rations.

Music – These are some of the songs I used to play and we used to sing on
different occasions.

Identity Card – We all had to have an Identity Card with name and details inside.    I also had a silver Identity disc  with my name and address on it which I wore on a
chain on my wrist.

Evacuee Letter – Families were all issued with a letter about taking in evacuees.  We
were not asked to have any.   I only remember one girl evacuee coming to
my school from somewhere.

Parks and Churches – Parks and churches and all private houses had to have their gates and railings removed  so that the metal could be used for war purposes. It
was over 50 years before the Corporation Park replaced its railings and
gates.  My church, Leamington Road Baptist Church built a small wall instead.

WW2 The Homefront

If you want to find out more about the WW2 Homefront please watch the videos presented by Stephen Irwin, Education Officer at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery

You can find out about: The Blackout, Rations in the War, and A Blackburn Wedding