‘Blitz’ memories (From York Press)

‘Blitz’ memories

11:55am Saturday 12th May 2012 in Letters

IN ANSWER to the letter from Gillian Hall of May 5, I was a boy of nine at that time and living at 10 Brownlow Street, a short distance from Gillian’s grandparents’ shop, Bonds.

I recall that evening during an air raid. Apparently, Gillian’s grandfather and family were coming downstairs when a blast blew a half-glazed door on the staircase at the family. Gillian’s grandad took the full force of that blast that eventually killed him, or so my mother explained to me.

I do not recall a German bomber crashing into the property. I do remember that a German Heinkel bomber did crash in Hayley’s Terrace, another event I witnessed.

In Lowther Street was a school for girls called St Hilda’s and the back wall of this school was a lane opposite to Bonds shop. I seem to remember this wall was partly blown down, and maybe this has something to do with that blast.

Another memory was watching my school, Park Grove, burning, as this had been bombed with incendiaries during the blitz on York.

Reg Fowler, Eason View, Dringhouses, York.