When 88-year-old Valerie Braunston moved into care in late 2023, her son, Miles Bingham, faced the daunting task of sorting through her belongings.
Among the items gathering dust in her writing room, he discovered a typed manuscript accompanied by hand-written notes, untouched for years.
Wartime London through a child’s eyes
The manuscript, now published as London Can Take It, offers a vivid account of Valerie’s childhood during the Second World War.
She recounts navigating German air raids to attend school, despite the disruption to her education. Her story continues through the summer of 1944, when the arrival of the first V-1 rockets prompted her temporary evacuation to a pig farm.
The book concludes with a heartwarming chapter about her first post-war holiday on the Isle of Wight, a cherished memory that marked a turning point in her young life.
A family’s connection to the Isle of Wight
Miles Bingham reflected on his mother’s enduring connection to the Island, saying,
“My mother experienced her first holiday as a child on the Island.
“For her generation, she used to say it was the equivalent of going abroad.”
Miles added
“Our family has always had a love affair with the Island.
“It’s poignant that she also spent her last ever holiday here as well, before becoming too infirm to travel.”
A time capsule rediscovered
The discovery of Valerie’s manuscript was a deeply personal moment for Miles. He said,
“Discovering her manuscript covered in cobwebs was like opening up a time capsule.
“I never realised that she’d written it all down some years ago.”
A tale of triumph over adversity
London Can Take It paints a compelling portrait of wartime Britain, offering valuable insights for readers, students, and researchers alike. Valerie’s story captures the resilience and determination of those who lived through one of the most challenging periods in modern history.
Valerie Braunston, who spent her early years in London before relocating to the south coast, recently passed away. Her legacy lives on in her memoir, ensuring that her remarkable experiences are preserved for future generations.
