Havenstreet Steam Railway 1940’s experience

A couple of weekends ago we spent a wonderful weekend at Havenstreet. What magnificent artifacts, cars, vans and a fairground swing there was to see. I met so many people who had tales to tell of their life or their parents’ life during WW2. 

People had gone to town, dressing up in period costume. Women’s dresses had no pleats as these were not allowed during the war as they took up too much material. There were many in lovely cotton frocks with plain line and no gathers or pleats. There were vintage hats which adorned vintage hairstyles. Dancers performed the Lindy Hop, as well as performers who sang vintage songs. I was born after the war but seem to know all the words to all the songs. 

I met Charlie, who is 11 years old. He was with his Dad who had a display of models for railways. His stand was next to us. He was one of the first to buy ‘A Red Sky’ and immediately started reading it. He was staying at a B and B opposite Ryde Pier and realised he could recreate the picture of Lindy sitting on the wall looking at the pier. Which he did. I took this picture of him deep in his new book. His mother has emailed me to tell me he is still absorbed in it. 

A lot of people stopped and told me stories relating to their or their family’s encounter with the enemy during WW2 on the Island. I love listening to these stories and I weave them into my books. There was one story of a pilot who landed his plane on Merston Down, gave himself up and was taken to the Blacksmith Arms for drink whilst they waited for the authorities. I have read incidences like this on the island of locals treating captives well.  So I added this camaraderie between the enemy and the locals in the chapter about Pieter, a German Messerschmitt pilot who floated up onto Little Bridge beach and met Lindy and Reggie.