During the war in the 1940s I was evacuated to stay with my Aunt Jennifer in the North of England

I want to tell you about how once my Aunt Jennifer administered servere discipline with a Leather Strap

It was a warm summer day, my aunt had to go out for a while and we were left playing happily in the Garden wearing our sunday best. Coming from a different background to what we found ourselves in now after a while, we got very rough with each other, screaming and using language that was unheard of in those days. The next thing I knew, we were rolling in the flower bed and broke many of the plants.

Aunt Jennifer arrived, saw the damage and learned from the neighbours what had gone on. We were sent to her bedroom. Once there, we held each other, trembling, and started to cry.

Aunt Jennifer came in with the strap and ordered all three of us to lie on the bed, bottoms facing up. I was in the middle, holding both my cousins’ hands, and all three of us were pleading for mercy.

Then the thrashing with the leather strap begun – the pain was unbearable! We wriggled, screamed and begged Aunt Jennifer to stop. Our behinds were so sore afterwards, and we lay there hugging each other, the tears flowing. Later, we could hardly sit down to eat our supper.