THE article in a recent issue of the Review concerning the POW camp in Broadwell, reminded me of an event in 1947 when Coleford was cut off because roads were blocked with heavy snow falls. At that time, my mother, Mrs Parsons owned the bakery, confectionary and grocery shop in Gloucester Road. I remember that, because of the large oven we had, the British officers asked if we would roast their large joints of meat especially over the Christmas period.

My mother happily agreed to this and, as a result, we grew to know the camp personnel. It was no surprise, therefore, to see them clearing the piles of snow to enable traffic to have access to Coleford town centre via Gloucester Road. My mother felt sorry for the prisoners who were obviously very cold so she asked one of the guards if the prisoners could come into the shop to have mugs of cocoa. On seeing groups of prisoners in the shop, some of the locals asked her if she felt nervous having so many Germans in her shop but they were so grateful for her consideration that there were no problem at all.

Actually, to show their appreciation in a practical way in the following weeks when they could move more freely, they used to buy various items from her shop. Being a teenager at the time, I remember thinking that this was what was meant by the phrase, "Entente cordiale"

– Desiree Rawle, by e-mail.