Howells recalls poverty-stricken youth.

Living in poverty and watching the V-day parades at just three years of age, Mr. William Howells, from Middlesborough recalled his earliest memory.

He said, this morning, that the first thing he can rmember is being just three years old and seeing the street parties and celebrations at the end of World War two.

He spoke about the feeling of happiness and celebratory atmosphere, “Even at such a young age, I could sense the stir of victory.”

The 65 year old said he could recall the air raid shelters outside his house and remembered that they were never used during the war.

He said he could remember sitting in his high chair looking at the shelters out of the window.

Mr. Howells, a retired electrician, also rmembers how different things were when he was young.

He said, “you could leave your door open and not have to worry about thieves or vandals.”

He$ said he felt like there was a lot more honesty when he was young and that everything is very different now and it's difficvult to trust people in this day and age.

He also told me that he had lived in near poverty at this time and because of this he appreciated things much more now.

Mr. Howells, grandfather of 13, said, “You knew poverty,” when he was young and that, “times have changed.”

Mr. William Howells rmembered his youth at the end of WWII.