‘Aye, I know,’ he replied. ‘And I do try, Peggy, really I do. But things happen, and to be sure I’m in the soup again without even trying. Now I’ve lost me ferrets, me grandson is off to fight a war and Rosie will be on the warpath.’ He gave a deep sigh. ‘To be sure, Peggy, ’tis not a day I’m looking forward to at all.’

Peggy didn’t want to meddle any more by mentioning the fact that Rosie had been seen with the Major, for Ron was down in the dumps already, so she just squeezed his arm in sympathy.

Stan was at the station looking rather the worse for wear after his drinking session at the allotment and the ear-bashing he’d had from Ethel on his return. He commiserated with Ron and Frank before grasping Brendon’s hand. ‘I wish you well, son,’ he said fervently.

‘Thanks, Uncle Stan,’ he replied. ‘And when I get back we’ll really have something to celebrate, so you’d better get prepared for a proper knees-up.’

Pauline looked po-faced at this, and tried to put on a brave expression as the train appeared around the bend in the track. She flung her arms about Brendon, clinging to him as if she never wanted to let him go, until Frank and Ron squashed her between them as they too embraced their beloved boy and Harvey ran round them with whines of concern.

It was a sad and worrying day, made even gloomier by the fog, but Peggy was determined to smile brightly and give Brendon a warm and positive send-off. She waited to say her own goodbyes, and as the train pulled up to the platform, Brendon disentangled himself, fussed Harvey and then drew her into his arms.

‘Take care of Mum for me,’ he whispered. ‘I love you, Aunt Peg. Thanks for everything, and I’m sorry things got out of hand last night.’

Peggy clasped his face. ‘You take care of yourself, and when this is over I want to meet your Betty.’ She kissed his cheek, and after a swift hug, he gathered up his kitbag and strode down the platform, Harvey loping after him. Leaving was hard, but long drawn-out farewells were even harder, and it was clear that Brendon had a job to do and was eager to get on with it so he could return home again. Peggy sent up a silent prayer that he would indeed come home, safe and sound.

The four of them stood in a miserable huddle as the troop train hissed and puffed clouds of smoke and steam, and Harvey sat howling on the platform once Brendon had climbed on board and closed the door. Only a handful of passengers alighted, and these were mostly factory workers who hurried away, leaving the servicemen on board who would be going on to the ports, airfields and army camps strung along the length of the coast.