‘Let me do that,’ said Peggy, quickly easing the knife from her. ‘I need you to organise the picnic basket and help Sarah make sure we have enough blankets and chairs to sit on.’

Cordelia raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing as Ivy dashed into the kitchen holding up a paper bag in triumph. ‘Look what Alf the butcher sneaked me from under the counter. Sausages! Proper bangers!’

Peggy gasped with pleasure as she viewed the string of eight fat, glistening sausages. ‘Fry them slowly on a low heat so they don’t burn on the outside and stay raw in the middle – and remember to prick them first. We don’t want them bursting,’ she warned Ivy, who was a bit inclined to fry everything on a very high heat and as quickly as possible. ‘We can eat them cold with the salad I picked from the garden.’

Peggy started to worry they wouldn’t have enough food, for not only did she have the residents of Beach View to feed, but Ivy’s Andy, Fran’s Robert, Kitty and Charlotte as well – and now Frank and Pauline. And how on earth was she going to get everything and everyone down to the recreation ground? There was the picnic basket and table, the blankets, deckchairs, bottles of beer and lemonade, the primus stove and kettle so she could make tea, and that was without taking extra coats and umbrellas in case it rained. Cordelia would find it a trial to walk all that way, but as there was no other solution they’d just have to take it slowly.

‘John Hicks said Andy could borrow the fire station van,’ said Rita, somehow reading Peggy’s mind. ‘He’s also donating two packets of custard creams a grateful lady gave him after we’d put out her chimney fire.’ She grinned impishly. ‘And if Pete can wangle an hour off from his flying duties, he’s promised to bring cake and ginger beer.’

‘I didn’t realise he’d been in touch again,’ said Peggy carefully.

‘He popped into the fire station yesterday, just for a chat,’ Rita replied, rather too nonchalantly. ‘And to show me the motorbike he’s bought. It needs a bit of work, but it’s going well enough for getting about on short trips.’

Peggy saw the brightness in her eyes and the colour in her elfin face and gave her a hug. ‘That’s nice, dear,’ she said, glad the girl was more cheerful and relieved that young Peter was proving to be a stalwart friend. ‘Let’s hope he can get away so he can show it off to the rest of us. But please promise me you won’t give me another heart attack by going for a ride on it.’

Rita grinned. ‘I’ve already had one,’ she admitted. ‘But I promise to behave this afternoon.’