These sound files are extracts (short edited pieces) from longer oral history interviews preserved by Northumberland Archives. These interviews were made as part of a project to collect the memories of people who lived on the Northumberland coast. 

These sound files are extracts (short edited pieces) from longer oral history interviews preserved by Northumberland Archives. The sound quality of this recording is not perfect. Maureen’s voice dips out and there is some background noise.

Maureen talks about the memories of her parents, and stories that they told her about wartime Blyth. She mentions the bomb that bounced up the river, and bombs falling at Newsham Gates. She talks about air raids and how people didn’t understand the changes at first and didn’t understand that they were at threat of being bombed by the German’s. She talks about air raids where young women were more interested in going to the dance that they were all dressed up for than taking shelter. She also talks about how people went out into their gardens to have a look when the air raid sirens first went off. She describes that there were sudden changes in Blyth and that the beach was closed off for five years during the war and was used by the forces. She describes people not understanding why they suddenly could not take their Sunday evening walk around the prom as the Ministry of Defence had closed Blyth beach.