Born in 1909 in Hull, Bernard recalls how he spent two pre-school years being treated with Radium at Hull Royal Infirmary; how he ran away from school on his first day and consequently, was transferred to a school further away where he was taught by nuns. Incidents involving Hansom cabs, muffin man, sailor suits, button boots and a fire engine pulled by horses. Not to mention sheltering from Zeppelin raids during WW1 and queueing for food; avoiding the priesthood; wagonette outings to Withernsea; moving to East Halton and again to Killingholme.

Leaving school at 14 then resulted in trials of finding work in Hull, Immingham and surrounding areas when work was hard to find. 13 jobs in the first two years before eventually finding permanent work on the railway in the Ollerton area in Nottinghamshire at the age of 16.

Family life, village life, wonderful anecdotes, music and sport - all wrapped up in a detailed account of life at that time.