Peggy slowed to a halt as they reached the line of shops, and there was Fred the Fish, Alf the butcher and Sam the grocer with their wives and children all waving flags and calling out to welcome him home. He climbed out to shake hands and receive kisses, his heart so full of love and gratitude for their welcome he could barely speak.

Peggy slowly drove the car towards the junction, and although he could see the evidence of war all round him in the bomb sites, he had eyes only for Beach View. The stucco was freshly painted white, the door a shining dark blue, and there were unfamiliar lanterns gracing the pillars at the bottom of the steps – it looked lovely in the sunshine, and thankfully hadn’t really changed all that much. But what made his heart miss a beat and brought tears to his eyes was the bunting and balloons, and the large, hand-painted sign above the door, welcoming him home.

‘It looks like we’ve been spotted,’ murmured Peggy, her voice trembling with emotion as everyone came pouring out of the house to wait for them on the front steps.

Jim was out of the car almost before Peggy had brought it to a halt, and immediately swamped in loving arms and smothered in kisses, the two dogs leaping up, desperate to welcome him as he was slowly drawn up the steps and into the house.

‘Hello, Dad,’ said Bob, flinging his arms round him. ‘It’s so good to see you.’

‘Oh, son,’ he replied, holding him tightly. ‘It’s the very best thing in the world to see you – and looking so grown-up, too.’ He pulled back eventually and caught sight of Charlie grinning at him. ‘Charlie?’ he gasped. ‘Is that really you?’

‘It certainly is, Dad,’ he replied, giving him a bear hug. ‘Welcome home.’

Jim was unashamedly tearful as he regarded his two handsome sons. ‘I can’t believe how you’ve both grown,’ he said in awe. ‘What the hell has Vi been feeding you in Somerset to make you so big?’

‘Better food than Mum and the others got here,’ said Bob on a chuckle. ‘But Mum’s laid on a proper feast in honour of your homecoming, so you won’t go hungry.’

‘Hello, Dad. Remember me?’

Jim could only stare at her. ‘Cissy?’

‘Well, of course it is, silly,’ she giggled, giving him a smacking kiss which left lipstick on his cheek. ‘It’s lovely to have you home, Dad, really it is. And don’t you look handsome in your uniform? I bet you had all those nurses positively drooling.’

He grinned bashfully. ‘Well, I don’t know about that, Cissy,’ he replied. ‘I was a bit too busy fighting off the Japs to take much notice of nurses.’

Cordelia pushed her way through and clasped Jim’s hand. ‘Welcome home, Jim. I’m so very glad you made it through, even if you have lost a bit of your ear.’ She grinned up at him. ‘Doesn’t this old woman get a kiss, then?’