The Diaries of Russell James Sparrow 1908 to 1991
long gap. Some of the boys who were in the R.A.F. at Wattisham joined the club and they would tell us during the course of the match where they had been to that morning and the distances covered in a short space of time. Little did I know then that in a year or two I would be doing a very similar thing under somewhat different circumstances. Needham also had a swimming pool at that time, near the mill on the Coddenham Road. A rough galvanised shelter was put up on the river Felixstowe 1939 bank and this small piece of river was for bathers and beginners and the ‘hole’ which was nearer Chester’s saw mill was for divers and the more proficient. Some of the lads would bring a bar of soap and have their weekly ‘tub’ in the river. Not many bathrooms in Needham at that time. Which reminds me of the night soil collection and all the fun and games attached thereto e.g. Harry losing his jacket with his supper in the pocket. This horrible business was going on in Needham until the 50’s.
World War 2 War was declared on Sunday, Sept. 3 1939. I joined the Local Defence Volunteers and was issued with an armband, we did rifle drill etc. This later became the Home Guard attached to the Suffolk Regiment. We were issued with uniform and rifle and did duty three times a week from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. plus siren calls. Our platoon had its headquarters at Hawks Mill. Air raids were frequent, the news rd
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