THE Second World War began nearly 80 years ago, in September 1939, and the

boyhood memories of Alan Siney, as described in Peter Gripton’s book A

History of Greatham, bring this wartime era vividly to life.

From the issuing of gas masks to every man, woman and child on the eve of war to being woken as German bombs were dropped from planes overhead, reporter Lorna Wallis recounts Mr Siney’s fascinating and illuminating recollections.

For full story, see this week’s Bordon Herald.