Dear Editor

I have been fascinated with the article from Daphne Jones and her brother, so many memories have been brought back.

Firstly it was the dreadful toilet conditions across the playground at Cantilupe Road schools. When the gas mask was mentioned I was panic stricken, when we did gas mask drill at school the smell of rubber used to make me feel so sick.

Although I was younger that Daphne I think I remember her from Girls Life Brigade at the Baptist Church, although I attended the Congregational Church, Gloucester Road. Mrs Beckett was leader at GLD when I was there.

My life-long friend was Diana Pittaway, who lived a few doors from the Jones family at St Govens. We started school together before we were five and both moved on to Monmouth together.

I used to catch up with Di whenever we were both in Ross and we both met up with our Monmouth friends. Sadly Di is no longer with us but I still try to meet up with friends when I stay at Merton House.

I did remember that Daphne had a younger brother and good for him to collect postcards, another memory came back when I saw the one of the Policeman on Point Duty at the Market Place.

Another great friend of mine was Heather Drew (Greenway) who recently died. Her father, PC Greenway, was often on Point Duty and used to hold the traffic while I crossed the road. Heather visited me in recent years at Merton House.

Market Day on Thursday was such a major event in Ross. Because we lived at Millbrook House, Brookend, a good many of our country friends used to come to our house for a cup of tea and a piece of cake whilst they waited for a bus home.

My little sister was born in 1944, I wonder if Michael was a little older. I am so glad that Daphne and Michael obviously had good memories. I really look forward to reading stories about my era in Ross.

Barbara Freeman (Woodroffe)

Stourbridge