Pub cellar was no-go area for air raid gangs By Trevor Joyce (From Penarth Times)

Pub cellar was no-go area for air raid gangs By Trevor Joyce

I CAN remember one night between 1939-43 when the air raid sirens sounded.

I was living with my mother then at 7 King Street.

And my mother, having lived through the 1914-1918 war, said we were to go across to the Golden Lion Pub and ask Mr Meade, the landlord, if we could go down his cellar until the raid was over.

We went out into the street and it was quite dark, people were running here and there, some were crying.

As we got to the double doors of the pub there were more people.

They were crying and some were banging on the double doors saying "Mr Meade can we go down your cellar until the raid is over?"

And time and time again the people would shout "Mr Meade can we please go down your cellar until the raid is over?"

But I am sorry to say that Mr Meade would not open his doors for anyone.

My mother then said we were going to the shelter at the bottom of Lord Street by the Ship Hotel, where we stayed until the raid was over.

Then we went back home.