On Thursday July 6th 1916 at 3 am, 6 years after my sister Edith and brother William, I arrived, a second daughter for Wilfred and Mary Pudsey of South Side Cottage. We had very good parents who cared for all three of us. When I arrived I may have got the best of the honey pot, but we all were well cared for with love and devotion.

I was baptised at Rudston Church by the Rev. J. Booty, my name being Grace, (after Grace Holtby, Winifred’s sister). I still treasure my very lovely gown, which I was baptized in all those many years ago.

As a child, I used to run over the field to Mrs. Allison at White Cottage. When I was there I was Grace Allison, but when I returned home I was Grace Pudsey again. On reaching school, age I went to the infant school. I liked school, at the age of 11 years I moved to the school near the church.

When I was twelve, I missed out on school for many months, through rheumatic fever. At school there were many good teachers, who were very helpful who taught us with many interesting lessons. Then the time came for leaving school, and I was disappointed to hear cookery lessons were to start at Driffield School. My mother was a very good cook, and I learnt many useful tips on cooking and home life.

After I left school, I had to help dad Wilfred, who was the village carrier. There was always plenty to do keeping the bus clean for the days going to Bridlington on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Driffield on Thursdays, and the occasional ‘private’ trip. One such trip, where we had to decorate the bus, was to take a party of guests to Winifred Holtby’s wedding at Cottingham. That was a very special outing.

At 17 years of age, I ventured out to earn a wage; I went into service at Bridlington to take up duties as a ‘cook general’ for Mr. and Mrs. D Thirsk. When I received my first wage it was 12/7d (63p); 7d went towards my insurance stamp, and out of the 12/- left, uniform and going out clothes had to be bought. The one good thing was, we always had plenty of good food. The day I left home my dad said he would give me a week but I ended up staying there over 5 years. It was hard work as the Thirsks were always partying and entertaining.

It was while I was at the Thirsks that I met Eric, who was in the RAF, based at Driffield with 77 Squadron. He was a rear gunner with the Whitely Bombers, and many nights I listened to the planes setting off on their missions to drop leaflets over Germany. I would again listen for them in the early morning as they returned, and was pleased when he rang to let me know he had arrived back safely.

After 5 years I left Bridlington and the Thirsks, to marry Eric. It was the first military wedding in Rudston, February 17th 1940. We had a lovely wedding with 70 guests, including many RAF pals. After I married Eric I stayed with my parents as he was still based at Driffield. On August

16th 1940, we were given the opportunity to go to the bungalow that Mr. Thirsk had taken to escape any risk in case Bridlington was bombed. As we arrived at the bungalow the air-raid sirens were blowing followed by the German planes bombing the camp. At 7 pm, as we waited for news Eric was brought to the bungalow; he was very shaken and upset as 13 of his pals had been killed in the raid.

Years come and pass having been married, but unfortunately losing Eric just 6 weeks before our diamond-wedding anniversary. Nevertheless, with love and friends I have now reached the age of 88 years, so I think I am very lucky. I think it must be the Rudston air, being the oldest person to be born here and still living in the same lane.

Grace Martin