The rats had it to themselves

I was working on the railway when we lived in Elder Street after the last war. We lived there for 18 months, in a three storey house with a back basement. We couldn’t live downstairs because the rats had taken it over. The whole area was full of rats. They used to come from the stables along Elder Street, where all the horses were kept for general carting and transport.

We stayed out of that basement, the rats had it to themselves. I was glad to get out of that place, I can tell you. There was a men’s club in Elder Street, ‘The Bartholemew Men’s Club’. I used to help them get the club ready after I had my accident on the railway. Popular place it was.