Mondays with Milly

The end of WW2 brought a sense of hope to Milly and her family. Milly's dad, Harry, puts on a brave face but continues to struggle emotionally from the loss of his beloved, Doris. Life goes on and Milly decides to leave school and join the workforce. There's no shortage of jobs and sense of optimism, despite continued rationing. Then, one day while window dressing, Milly has a chance meeting with...

In this final episode of season one, we learn about Doris' story; how she met Harry and the circumstances around her tragic death which left the family reeling. Milly relives these events vividly and emotionally.  If you like this podcast, please tell your family and friends and write a review. We'd love to know what you think. 

This bonus episode of Mondays with Milly focuses on Milly's recollections of growing up, going to school and family holidays. It was a bit disturbing to learn that Milly used to play "house" with a friend in an undertaker's basement using coffins!  Please enjoy this bonus content and we hope to have you back for season two.

In episode #6 we explore the far-reaching consequences of losing family members to tragedy. With the unexpected death of Milly’s mother, Doris, Milly is forced to grow up quickly and naturally takes on many extra responsibilities. The death of her cousin, Buddy, is an enduring mystery and the end of the war brings about muted celebrations.

Have you ever wondered what it was really like to live with air raids? In this episode, Milly gives us some idea of how her family developed an air raid routine and what might have happened if you were unlucky. Singing songs was a way of reassuring young children frightened by the noise and destruction around them. 

When ration books were introduced during World War 2, families had to adjust quickly to smaller portions and less choice. Air raid shelters called "Anderson Shelters" were installed in back gardens and would become an important part of homeland defence. Things were getting serious. In this episode, Milly gives us some idea of what was to be the "new normal" for a country at war. 

On Sunday 3rd September at 11am, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's radio announcement shook the nation. Eight year-old Milly was more concerned with not being able to go on a planned holiday with her neighbours and didn't fully comprehend the gravity of what was to come. Milly's father was away from home for months and the country was suddenly faced with strict rules to follow. World War 2 brou...

What happened to people who got sick before there was a national health system? What was it like to go to school in the 1930s? What were peoples' attitudes to vaccinations against disease? These questions and more will be answered in episode two of Mondays with Milly. 

Welcome to Mondays with Milly. In episode one we're introduced to Milly's family and get an idea of what it was like to grow up in the shadows of the Great Depression. Finding work was a challenge and families supported themselves any way they could. Milly meets the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, and her dad mixes cement for Winston Churchill, whose hobby just happens to be brick-laying.&nbs...

Mondays with Milly is a podcast about the past as told by someone who was there. Through a series of interviews, "Milly" (AKA Doreen from Manchester) - talks about her life from the Great Depression era and World War 2 to the present day. Now in her ninetieth year, Milly is a natural story-teller with a razor-sharp memory. Her recount of a life spanning some of history's defining moments provides...