It was interesting to hear ‘from the horses mouth’ so to speak, what it was like. It was interesting to learn that women who lived in London knew about and took part in a thriving black market trade in clothing coupons – 3d each. Many had money because they worked long hours and got paid more than they ever had before the war. I was told by several women at different places about going to ‘secret’ addresses at a certain time and there would be clothes to buy. One woman said she had something new most weeks top go to dances, clothes she later sold on.

Fascinating, though they were willing to trade in black market clothing coupons, black market food coupons were considered a complete no no.