Page 8 - The Spirit of Christmas 1940

Chapter 1

spot since leaving school. Not much of a career but he could
always make up for his low wages by a few under the table deals
from his many east end contacts. Everybody knew that his goods
originated ‘off the back of a lorry’ but nobody questioned it. Even
the local police turned a blind eye as they knew he wouldn’t
overcharge people and he could often be a blessing at this time
of strict rationing. In fact, a visit by the police to the station was
normally just an excuse for them to grab a bargain from Jimmy
when nobody was watching. Besides there was never any point in
questioning Jimmy about the origin of his stock as he had the gift
of the gab and could talk his way out of anything so to save time,
energy and an awful lot of wasted paperwork, they just turned a
blind eye as long as he didn’t go too far.

Within ten minutes, his newspaper stand was set up and his
daily act began. “Read all abaht it, Joe Louis wins heavyweight
title. Get yer ‘erald ‘ere” The headlines would be screamed out
over and over the next few hours enticing passengers to part with
a penny for the latest edition. Just as Jimmy was about to yell out
once again, he was stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth left open
as if his jaw had suddenly frozen. The reason for the shock was
the entrance of the flower barrow being pushed onto the platform
by Rose.

Rose provided such a vital service to the many customers of
Church Street station providing flowers for the reuniting husbands
and wives, girlfriends and boyfriends, mothers, daughters fathers,
sons and of course, for the servicemen and women returning
from the war. Christmas, though, was a good opportunity to lift
spirits with holly wreaths, mistletoe and all sorts of decorations
for family Christmas trees, mantelpieces and dinner tables. But
although the station needed her, she also needed the station, and
her stall. Rose was an only child and the only source of income
for her dad who had lost his legs during the First World War. Her
mother had died when she was just a young girl leaving Rose to
grow up faster than she wanted. Still, she made ends meet and for
the most of the time, she and her dad were ok.