A change of occupation
NextBack'Before war broke out, I was happily working in a gents outfitters at Walsall but when I was seventeen I was called up and sent for sixteen weeks training at Handsworth Training Centre. I was taught inspection and the reading of Verniers, but I was put on a Capstan lathe at Royal Enfield which had gauges so my skills in Vernier reading were not used.” 'I had never even seen a machine before I went to the Training Centre. At Royal Enfield I had to stand at that machine from eight in the morning until seven at night, with only the dinner break and a couple of other short breaks. I also had to learn how to find my way round. I was always getting lost. I can remember thinking 'Oh my God where am I?' I didn't like the country either. I'm a town girl and I missed the shops. 'Everyone did their best to make me feel at home and I was very lucky because I didn't have to stay in a hostel. The Personnel Officer, Mrs Wareham, found me lodgings with a very nice family. Graham and Madge Beszant in Rookery Road who were very kind to me but I was so home- sick!
