The Bedford Diary of Leah Aynsley, 1943-1946, provides a fascinating insight into the daily life of a working class woman during the Second World War. Leah hoped that her diary, which she gave as a bequest to Bedfordshire Archives Service, would: ‘often be useful to settle arguments as to what happened on such and such occasions.’ She also thought that: ‘being written by a working-class person among whom I suspect not many will keep such diaries . [it] may be interesting in future centuries’.

Leah moved with her parents and two brothers to live in Queens Park, Bedford, in 1921 in her twentieth year. During the war years she worked for the Igranic Electric Company and the diary includes her thoughts on her job there and the work that was undertaken by the firm. The diary also details her day to day activities, generally confined to cycling distance of her home. But she had a busy and active life – working on her allotment in Bromham, attending BBC concerts in the Corn Exchange as well as going to local lectures and folk dances. Throughout the diary Leah comments on aspects of war-time Bedford including the influx of American airmen, rationing, Home Guard duties, bombing raids, air-raid warnings and preparations for invasion. Her style – understated, measured, factual, domestic but engaging – is no better captured than in her entry on Victory Day: ‘V DAY. Well, the day is nearly over now. Very quiet around here. I have not heard any victory bells. The street has blossomed out into flags, bunting and fairy lights. The local shops were open – even the fish shop – and the baker called as usual … Churchill broadcast at 3 p.m. … A very pleasant day in May.’

Errata

p2 para 2 Leah did not work for W. H. Allen during the war but for the  Igranic Electric Company in Elstow Road (see p31 13 May 1943).

p7 para 2 for W. H. Allen & Sons Engineering read Igranic Electric Company.

p44 para 2 for W. H. Allen & Sons Engineering read Igranic Electric Company.

p171 work of LA, for ‘mainly at Allen’s’ read mainly at Igranic.