ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n THE CAT AND THE KIPPER<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n This story takes place in Barry\u2019s West End during the early 1940s, when my family lived in a modest terraced house not far from the docks. My grandfather, Jim, was a Merchant Seaman who travelled the world from Barry Dock. My grandmother, Agnes, kept house and cared for my four-year-old Auntie Ruth and my father, Alf, who was only six months old in 1941.<\/p>\n Most of family life happened in the back room of that little house. The fireplace held a small range for cooking, and a large window looked out onto the yard, where a tin bath hung from a nail on the wall. More often than not, the local black cat, known to everyone as Mr. Tickles, could be found perched on top of it, surveying his kingdom. Inside, a wooden table stood ready for meals, and the steep staircase climbed to the only bedroom. Beneath those stairs was a cupboard that served as both pantry and, when needed, air-raid shelter.<\/p>\n On the day of this story, Grandma had taken the children down the High Street to the fishmonger. Grandad Jim had been away at sea for three long months, and she wanted to surprise him with his favourite tea: kippers with brown bread and proper butter.<\/p>\n Just after three o\u2019clock, the front door opened and in walked Grandad, smelling faintly of salt and diesel and home.<\/p>\n The children rushed to him, and Grandma kissed his cheek before saying, \u201cJim, sit yourself down. I\u2019ve got your favourite – kipper supper, with brown bread and real butter.\u201d \u201cOh, that\u2019s grand!\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about that for months.\u201d<\/p>\n As the fish sizzled on the range, the room filled with the rich, smoky smell of kippers. Grandma set the bread, butter, and a bottle of Welsh bitter on the table. Mr. Tickles wandered in just then, tail held high and was rewarded with a saucer of milk. Auntie Ruth giggled at the sight of him lapping noisily at the dish.<\/p>\n Grandad had just washed in the sink and was settling himself at the table, leaning over to kiss Grandma as he said, \u201cThat looks lovely, love.\u201d But before he could take more than a few bites, the wail of an air-raid siren cut through the afternoon.<\/p>\n \u201cOh no,\u201d he groaned. \u201cNot now – not when I\u2019m having my tea!\u201d \u201cLeave it, Jim,\u201d said Grandma firmly. \u201cIt\u2019ll still be there when the raid is over.\u201d She was already gathering the children toward the cupboard under the stairs. Few houses in the West End had proper Anderson shelters; the cupboard was considered the strongest place in the house.<\/p>\n With a reluctant sigh, Grandad grabbed another mouthful of kipper, snatched a piece of buttered bread, and followed them inside. Grandma lit a small candle, its warm glow flickering over the cramped space. A minute later, the ominous drone\u00a0of an aircraft passed overhead. Then came a terrifying silence – the kind soldiers called the quiet before the hit. Without warning, a tremendous explosion shook the house. Glass shattered throughout the back room. The candle trembled in Grandma\u2019s hand. The children cried, but she held them tight, whispering assurances she wasn\u2019t sure she believed.<\/p>\n When the all-clear finally sounded, Grandad told them to stay put while he went to inspect the damage. A German bomber returning from a raid in the Midlands had jettisoned a leftover bomb on its way home, likely aiming for Barry Docks. Instead, it fell into a nearby street in the West End. Miraculously, no one in Barry was killed.<\/p>\n Grandad stepped cautiously into the back room. The window facing the yard had been completely blown out. Shards of glass were embedded in the very chair where he\u2019d been sitting minutes earlier. Had he stayed to finish his kippers, he would almost certainly have been killed.<\/p>\n But there was one casualty that day. Mr. Tickles, having seized his chance the moment the cupboard door closed, had jumped onto the table to finish Grandad\u2019s abandoned supper. When the blast shattered the window, flying glass ended the poor cat\u2019s war for him.<\/p>\n Grandad Jim never ate kippers again<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST THE CAT AND THE KIPPER This story takes place in Barry\u2019s West End during the early 1940s, when my family lived in a modest terraced house not far from the docks. My grandfather, Jim, was a Merchant Seaman who travelled the world from Barry Dock. My grandmother, Agnes, kept house and cared for my four-year-old Auntie […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[334,429,228],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6cWjO-4hl","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3309,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=3309","url_meta":{"origin":16451,"position":0},"title":"NEW BOOK ARRIVALS","author":"Alan Williams","date":"27th May 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"In the Children\u2019s Section we have some amazing new books Ella\u2019s Kitchen \u2013 Easy Family Cookbook Mr Men \u2013 Search and Find Biff, Chip and Kipper - 18 different titles in this series. Wow. I wonder who has read them all? For the Grown Ups Blind Sight \u2013 Carol O\u2019Connell\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Wenvoe Community Hub"","block_context":{"text":"Wenvoe Community Hub","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":12630,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=12630","url_meta":{"origin":16451,"position":1},"title":"Cat Attack","author":"Alan Williams","date":"9th December 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"CAT ATTACK! It was mid October and there was a great commotion going on in our garden. First there was a bang as something ran into the metal gate alongside the house. Then a blur as a creature ran past followed by another blur in hot pursuit. The first was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/CatAttack.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12601,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=12601","url_meta":{"origin":16451,"position":2},"title":"Bangs Of Expectation","author":"Alan Williams","date":"7th December 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"BANGS OF EXPECTATION The first Christmas crackers were known as \u2018Bangs of Expectation\u2019. Crackers came about because confectioner Tom Smith needed a way to market French-style sweets wrapped in paper. The story goes that he was inspired to add an explosive element by the sight of a log crackling on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/cracker-12-22.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16748,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=16748","url_meta":{"origin":16451,"position":3},"title":"Crufts 2026","author":"Alan Williams","date":"26th March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST CRUFTS 2026 Eva and Asher were doggy superstars at Crufts 2026. Asher made his debut in the Dog Obedience Championship on Saturday 7th March. His owner, Carolyn, was thrilled to be placed 4th with him. Eva was first to work her obedience test the following day\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Crufts.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16636,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=16636","url_meta":{"origin":16451,"position":4},"title":"Competing In the Crufts Obedience Championships","author":"Alan Williams","date":"28th February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST COMPETING IN THE CRUFTS OBEDIENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS Two local canine residents Eva and Asher Heath have made their dog mum very proud as they both won championship dog obedience classes last year which meant they were invited to compete in the annual Crufts Obedience Championships in 2026.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Crufts.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9173,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=9173","url_meta":{"origin":16451,"position":5},"title":"Avian Art","author":"Alan Williams","date":"2nd March 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"An ink drawing of a Buzzard, by Mr Gordon Jones. which perched in his garden on Port Road. 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