An Anderson air raid shelter in the garden of 3 Ayr Way, probably photographed in the summer of 1940.

The photograph was kindly provided by Cherry Forray, who writes: "The man on the right is my father, Bill Ashburnham. He was called up in September 1940. It certainly looks as if this photo was taken before then, though he did come home on leave occasionally. The lady in the centre is my mother, Win Ashburnham (nee Rowswell), and the lady on the left is our next door neighbour, Eve Stevens. The Stevens and the Ashburnhams shared the shelter and became very close friends" [as Eve Stevens recalls]. "In 1944 they became even closer, when the two women and their two young children were evacuated to Woolacombe, Devon, where they lived together for the rest of the war."

Win Ashburnham was the daughter of Frederick and Harriett (Hartie) Rowswell, who ran a cycle shop in High Street until the 1930s.

	Home | What's New | FAQ | Contact Me | Preferences | Copyright Advancing Romford's heritage; raising civic pride