Doodlebug On Gas Holder

A Memory of Cranleigh.

My father worked at Cranleigh Gas Works, and had been painting the gas holder, (it was painted by hand in those days), and he'd just come home for a cup of tea at breakfast time, when the doodlebug struck the holder that he'd been painting. Evidently, according to my mother, I was in my highchair having my porridge when I, and of course the porridge was suddenly covered in soot from the chimney, from the blast of the bomb. We lived in a Gas Company cottage about five minutes away. All my father could say, evidently, was "What a waste of b***** paint!!" Not really concerned about himself and what could have happened to him. I believe I'm right in saying that a lady by the name of Mrs Ede died from the blast, who lived in the cottages right next to the gas works. I guess this must have happened in 1943/44. I was born Feb 1943 and have lived in Cranleigh all my life.