Interview with Carol Isaac, aged 87, by Year 5 pupils at Ysgol Carreg Hir primary School, 13th March 2024, who shares her memories of her childhood in Briton Ferry with a focus life during the Second World War.

00:00:00 - 00:00:39: Introduction. Carol Isaac, introduces herself and mentions she has lived in Briton Ferry all her life.

00:00:39 - 00:01:36: She recalls the start of WWII in 1939, when she was three. Her uncle served, and the local community contributed through steel production, coal mining, and dock work.

00:01:36 - 00:03:50: Daily wartime life included children carrying gas masks, routine air raid drills, and sheltering during alerts.

00:03:50 - 00:07:21: Carol describes experiencing an air raid, the bombing of a nearby house, and her father’s role in the Home Guard. Blackouts and warning sirens were part of daily life.

00:07:21 - 00:10:53: She recalls German air raids, flares used to identify industrial targets, and bombing damage that left areas unsafe for weeks.

00:10:53 - 00:15:25: Encountering German prisoners of war at a church service where the Lord’s Prayer was recited in multiple languages. She reflects on the humanity of soldiers on both sides.

00:15:25 - 00:16:28: Wartime restrictions led to the loss of community leisure spaces, like the local roller-skating rink.

00:16:28 - 00:17:09: A canteen for American soldiers was built near the war’s end, and families housed them overnight.

00:17:09 - 00:17:47: Carol’s father installed a bathroom in their home, which two American soldiers used in return for bringing sweets and chewing gum.

00:17:47 - 00:18:29: Sweets were rationed, and American soldiers distributed treats to children at the railway station.

00:18:29 - 00:19:40: Fresh fruit was rare; Carol remembers receiving an unripe banana from her Navy uncle and waiting for it to ripen.

00:19:40 - 00:21:08: Identity cards were required, even for children. She also recalls street parties at the war’s end, attended by her grandfather, the mayor.

00:21:08 - 00:22:40: She introduces a commemorative book with letters from the royal family and accounts of wartime events.

00:22:40 - 00:24:47: A relative fluent in German served as a wartime radio operator and was once parachuted into Arnhem.

00:24:47 - 00:26:14: Entertainment during the war included comic books and early Disney characters, as TV was not available.

00:26:14 - 00:27:39: Community spirit was strong, with churches organizing evening activities for children.

00:27:39 - 00:28:47: Jersey Park was a popular meeting place, with a pond, greenhouses, and open-air religious services.

00:28:47 - 00:29:38: Carol concludes by showing wartime ration coupons and old currency, reminiscing about their everyday use.