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| World War Two: Child's memoir found on door panel after almost 80 years | |
| (30 days later) | |
| Tom Yuen says he was drawn to the panel, which feels like a "handshake through history" | Tom Yuen says he was drawn to the panel, which feels like a "handshake through history" |
| A teenager's account of the difficulties of post-war life has been found hidden in a door panel that was saved from the tip. | A teenager's account of the difficulties of post-war life has been found hidden in a door panel that was saved from the tip. |
| The handwritten note tells of the daily six-hour power cuts, no coal "in any quantity" and short supply of food. | The handwritten note tells of the daily six-hour power cuts, no coal "in any quantity" and short supply of food. |
| Tom Yuen, 31, from Cardiff, was searching for second hand door panels when he found the note, from 1947, which he says felt like a "handshake through time". | Tom Yuen, 31, from Cardiff, was searching for second hand door panels when he found the note, from 1947, which he says felt like a "handshake through time". |
| "I think you can't really compare life today to then, it really puts life into perspective," said Mr Yuen. | "I think you can't really compare life today to then, it really puts life into perspective," said Mr Yuen. |
| The note says: "To the person who will read this, Steve Alford hopes that things are much better now. | The note says: "To the person who will read this, Steve Alford hopes that things are much better now. |
| "Peter Cowley, now age 16 years, also wishes the same to you." | "Peter Cowley, now age 16 years, also wishes the same to you." |
| Mr Yuen was given the door panel for free from a paint stripper yard in Cardiff, where it faced being binned. | Mr Yuen was given the door panel for free from a paint stripper yard in Cardiff, where it faced being binned. |
| He then found what it concealed. | He then found what it concealed. |
| "I was drawn to it," said Mr Yuen. | "I was drawn to it," said Mr Yuen. |
| "Selfishly, I was considering getting it (the note) framed, but I think it belongs to all. | "Selfishly, I was considering getting it (the note) framed, but I think it belongs to all. |
| "It's quite sad really, dated two years after the war, they are cold, have no food, there is no central heating. | "It's quite sad really, dated two years after the war, they are cold, have no food, there is no central heating. |
| "I think you can't really compare life today to then, it really puts life into perspective." | "I think you can't really compare life today to then, it really puts life into perspective." |
| Tom Yuen says he was given the panel for free from a paint stripper yard in Cardiff | Tom Yuen says he was given the panel for free from a paint stripper yard in Cardiff |
| What else was happening in 1947? | What else was happening in 1947? |
| Post-war rationing was continuing and 1947 saw one of the worst winters in living memory with 10ft (3m) snow drifts. | Post-war rationing was continuing and 1947 saw one of the worst winters in living memory with 10ft (3m) snow drifts. |
| Roads and rail lines were blocked across the UK, and day-time blackouts were introduced with coal running low. | Roads and rail lines were blocked across the UK, and day-time blackouts were introduced with coal running low. |
| Miners couldn't get to work and factories became silent amid concerns the country was facing "complete disaster". | Miners couldn't get to work and factories became silent amid concerns the country was facing "complete disaster". |
| That led to a massive thaw in March, resulting in a "once-in-a-hundred-years" flooding across southern England. | That led to a massive thaw in March, resulting in a "once-in-a-hundred-years" flooding across southern England. |
| Thaw from heavy snowfall saw people being rescued from their homes in Clapton, London, in 1947 | Thaw from heavy snowfall saw people being rescued from their homes in Clapton, London, in 1947 |
| Historian Dr Elin Jones said people would have felt the impact of World War Two for another seven years, with rationing continuing until 1954. | Historian Dr Elin Jones said people would have felt the impact of World War Two for another seven years, with rationing continuing until 1954. |
| "The great freeze which they speak of kind of reflects what we're experiencing now, but there is no comparison to their struggles," she said. | "The great freeze which they speak of kind of reflects what we're experiencing now, but there is no comparison to their struggles," she said. |
| The message also shows the strength of workers unions at the time, said Dr Jones, as the 40 hour working week and minimum wage was on the horizon. | The message also shows the strength of workers unions at the time, said Dr Jones, as the 40 hour working week and minimum wage was on the horizon. |
| "It was usual to work six out of seven days of the week back then, the idea of capped hours was a luxury," she said. | "It was usual to work six out of seven days of the week back then, the idea of capped hours was a luxury," she said. |
| As many companies now look towards a four day working week, Dr Jones says the panel shows how it was a "very different world in terms of work and how we work". | As many companies now look towards a four day working week, Dr Jones says the panel shows how it was a "very different world in terms of work and how we work". |
| "Interestingly, there was no mention of women and housework, which would have looked very different to today," Dr Jones added. | "Interestingly, there was no mention of women and housework, which would have looked very different to today," Dr Jones added. |
| A government "No Power" order was observed between the hours of 9am and 12pm and 2pm and 4pm due to shortages of fuel | A government "No Power" order was observed between the hours of 9am and 12pm and 2pm and 4pm due to shortages of fuel |
| The message also said the British Medical Association (BMA) was "about to be state controlled" in 1947. | The message also said the British Medical Association (BMA) was "about to be state controlled" in 1947. |
| The founding of the NHS on 5 July 1948 made the UK the envy of the world, but the future of the NHS today is uncertain. | The founding of the NHS on 5 July 1948 made the UK the envy of the world, but the future of the NHS today is uncertain. |
| With hospital waiting times passing 800,000 for the first time in Wales, many doctors and nursing staff are doubtful of its longevity. | With hospital waiting times passing 800,000 for the first time in Wales, many doctors and nursing staff are doubtful of its longevity. |
| Full transcript of the panel | Full transcript of the panel |
| This year of Jan Feb 1947 | This year of Jan Feb 1947 |
| The Great Freeze Up Light and power cut off for 6 hours a day | The Great Freeze Up Light and power cut off for 6 hours a day |
| The country in a hell of a state | The country in a hell of a state |
| No coal in any quantity | No coal in any quantity |
| No light in some parts of England | No light in some parts of England |
| Food in short supply | Food in short supply |
| Some talk of 40 hour week for building trade | Some talk of 40 hour week for building trade |
| Linseed oil 21/- a gallon | Linseed oil 21/- a gallon |
| Gloss Paints 42/- a gallon | Gloss Paints 42/- a gallon |
| When you can get it | When you can get it |
| And you must have a permit to do any work over £10.00 | And you must have a permit to do any work over £10.00 |
| Fags in very short supply | Fags in very short supply |
| A ten horse power car cost new about £400.00 | A ten horse power car cost new about £400.00 |
| A second hand car 10HP cost about £6000.0 | A second hand car 10HP cost about £6000.0 |
| And this is a Labour government, happy days if we live long enough | And this is a Labour government, happy days if we live long enough |
| To the person who will read this. I Steve Alford hope that things are much better now. Peter Cowley Now age 16 years also wishes the same to you | To the person who will read this. I Steve Alford hope that things are much better now. Peter Cowley Now age 16 years also wishes the same to you |
| Don't go down the mine daddy, there is plenty of coal in the cwtch | Don't go down the mine daddy, there is plenty of coal in the cwtch |
| Dr T. Davies Lives Here | Dr T. Davies Lives Here |
| The BMA about to be state controlled | The BMA about to be state controlled |
| No football has been played for a month, ground frozen | No football has been played for a month, ground frozen |
| A woman celebrates the end of rationing after fourteen years by tearing up her ration book in 1954 | A woman celebrates the end of rationing after fourteen years by tearing up her ration book in 1954 |
| The panel has had interest from the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff to be put up on display as a marker of history, says Mr Yuen and he is thankful to have found it before its luck ran out. | The panel has had interest from the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff to be put up on display as a marker of history, says Mr Yuen and he is thankful to have found it before its luck ran out. |
| Dr Jones described the discovery as "footsteps in the sands of time" and said people often leave moments of themselves in their homes to be discovered. | Dr Jones described the discovery as "footsteps in the sands of time" and said people often leave moments of themselves in their homes to be discovered. |
| "I wonder how many other messages may be waiting to be found," she said. | "I wonder how many other messages may be waiting to be found," she said. |
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