As they approached the fair, Sarah could see the words ‘Funfair’ in lights over the entrance, and yellow-painted booths. George walked ahead, but Sarah caught him up. ‘I hope you don’t think you’re paying for me and Tommy to get in,’ she said.

‘Of course I am. What sort of bloke would take a woman and kid out and expect them to fork out for themselves?’ George asked, his expression one of hurt, so Sarah grudgingly allowed him to pay.

Once through the booths, she watched as Tommy’s eyes widened and could see he wasn’t sure where to run to first. ‘He’s going to have the time of his life. Thanks, George,’ she said, though she still would have preferred to pay their own way.

‘Follow me,’ George said, ‘I’ve been here more times than I’ve had hot dinners. If we go on the Ferris wheel first, once we’re up the top it’s so high you can look around and see what you want to go on next. When we’ve done all the good stuff, I’ll take you through the tree walk.’

‘Yes!’ Tommy agreed eagerly.

Sarah wasn’t so keen. Her hands were already feeling clammy at the thought of sitting so high above the ground, and walking through the tree canopies.

‘No sweets before the rides though, Tommy. We don’t want you chucking up halfway round,’ George said with a laugh. ‘My mate ate a packet of Spangles before going on the Rotor and threw ’em all back up afterwards.’

‘What’s the Rotor, George?’ Tommy asked.

‘It’s a big circle thing that you stand in and it spins round so fast that you stick to the wall. It don’t ’alf leave you feeling giddy and ill though.’

Sarah pulled a face, and George added, ‘But I don’t think we’ll be going on that ride today.’

A few minutes later, Sarah found herself on top of the Ferris wheel, clinging on to one of the safety bars and barely able to open her eyes.

‘Look, Mum, can we go on that?’

Sarah opened one eye to see Tommy pointing towards something on the ground. She felt too afraid to speak. She feared if she opened her mouth, all that would come out would be an ear-piercing scream. Thankfully George intervened.

‘Ah, the Jets. You’ll love ’em, Tommy. There’s a stick you can hold that controls the plane going up or down.’

Once they had disembarked the Ferris wheel, Tommy led the way to the next ride. As they stood in the queue, Sarah felt weak at the knees. ‘I can’t do it,’ she said to George.

‘Can’t do what?’

‘I can’t get on that ride. I’m going to sit this one out. I think the horses on the merry-go-round are going to be my limit.’