‘I’ll sort something out, dear,’ Mother said quickly. ‘I’ve seen the bathing dresses young people wear these days. I’m sure they’ll have one in the emporium.’

‘No, no, not a bathing dress, that’s no good for swimming. The skirts’ll sink her. Abandon the corset, Gertie, and put on a pair of my woollen combinations. We’ll start at dawn. Make sure you’re up and ready at five o’clock.’ He stared at the table top for a moment. ‘Martha, is that cork protector still under this cloth?’ Mother nodded. ‘Then roll it and tie it like a breast of lamb to keep your daughter afloat while she learns.’

‘Yes, dear. Do you want me to come with you?’

‘I certainly do. Bring towels and brandy.’

Before dawn the next morning the three of us hurried along the treacherous cliff path that led down to St Margaret’s Bay.

‘If we hear any planes,’ Father said, ‘I’ll blow the lamp out and we’ll have to stand still until there’s enough light to see where we’re going. I don’t want anyone falling down the cliff. Is that understood?’

Father led the way, holding the lantern high. Shadows danced around our feet making it even more difficult to see where we were stepping. To the rear, Mother struggled with a bulging carpet bag. I felt ridiculous in my father’s underwear and my mother’s second-best coat. Thank God it was dark. I strained my ears for the sound of a plane, hoping for once that Kaiser Bill would save the day.

At sunrise, my father and I entered the freezing water. I had never been in the sea above my knees before. Terrified, but determined, I obeyed Father’s instruction and lay belly-down in the shallows, the cork roll across my chest and sticking up from under my arms. Father’s hand cupped my chin.

‘Come on, Gertie, kick those legs!’ he boomed.

After fifteen minutes, I stood and said, ‘Surely that’s enough, Father, I’m freezing to death.’

He gave me such a shove that I staggered and lost my balance on the uneven stones. In a moment, I went under. Father came after me, I thought to help me up, but he shoved his big hand over my face and pushed it under the surface. I caught a glimpse of him through the water, lips tight, cheeks red and blown out. He was drowning me! I struggled against his hand, grasping his wrist, kicking furiously, my lungs bursting.

Just at the moment I couldn’t hold my breath any longer, he pulled me up. Tugged into his arms, he held me tightly. Though I was crying, I could feel his chest heaving against my cheek and realised he had held his breath as long as me.