We made our own fun when children, having a large farmyard to play in and grass fields surrounding the house as well as various spare rooms in the house to explore. The back stairs from the kitchen led to the servants’ quarter with bells on the wall. There were lots of treasures in that room which had been left behind by previous owners- stacks of cigarette cards, old shells and all sorts.

Fun in the stack yard was climbing the ladder to the top of the straw stack and then sliding down. This was expressly forbidden of course. Dad made a swing with a cart rope slung over a beam in the barn. We also had an assault course where we could climb out of the granary window on to a cowshed roof and then on to a large door to the yard.

For most of the summer holidays, Pat and I went to our grandparents in Barroway Drove. There was no petrol for cars so we had to cycle 15 miles. Dad took us half way where we met Grandfather and ate our sandwiches on the side of the road. Our clothes were packed in a large brown paper parcel and tied to a carrier on the back of our bikes.

We liked it at Grandmother’s because we didn’t have to work and we loved taking Grandad’s tea to the harvest field in the basket. He would have a very thick slice of bread with a big piece of ham or cheese on top which he cut pieces off with his shut knife and hot tea in an enamel can. We were never without milk for tea and when the milkman called, he ladled the milk out of a large can. Grandma always pleaded for a bit extra when we were staying. It was not really rationed but his supplies were limited.

Our Uncle Jack tormented us when we stayed there. He made toffee for us, but always said we would not want any because he put salt, pepper and vinegar in it. He also had a magic wand and a book of tricks so we believed him when he said he would turn us into horrible creatures if we didn’t do as we were told.

One other feature of the summer holidays was the village garden fete, which I loved going to in a new dress and straw hat. We entered the wild flower competition, watched races, tugs of war, people on the slippery horse and bowling for the pig. We had our dresses made by a dressmaker, so I thought it such a treat when I was 10 to be taken to a shop to buy a dress.

My brother Pat and I were allowed to cycle to King’s Lynn on a Saturday with no parents. This meant getting to West Lynn and then crossing the ferry in a small boat which still runs to this day. I can remember queuing to buy a doll at the end of the war. When the weather was fine, we cycled to Sunday school. One day Pat and I decided we didn’t want to go, so we just carried on cycling, closing the whole circuit past the village and back another way. We were terrified when we passed a friend’s house in case they saw us and told our parents.

Though we felt we had a lot of freedom in those days, it wasn’t easy to get away with much in the community we lived in. There was nearly always an adult who would have seen what the children were getting up to.

I remember once cycling home from school and stopping to eat young peas from Dad’s field. When I got home I was reprimanded for stealing and put in the very large walk-in cupboard. My Uncle Jack had passed by and seen me in the act. I regularly experienced my father’s wrath as I was often in hot water and punished by being tied to a chair in the hall