Yvonne Powell (nee Parkes) was born at West Bromwich, West Midlands in 1951, lived at 183 Bermuda Mansions, Yew Tree Estate, Walsall, and went to Yew Tree Junior School.

Living in blocks of flats on the Yew Tree -- As kids we would band together to start collecting the wood for the bonfire -- not a twig was safe.

I remember my friends and I dressing up my little sister as the 'Guy' one year and sitting her on the cold concrete floor as the buses onto the Yew Tree pulled up. We had to sit either side of her to keep her shoulders from moving, as she was bursting to laugh as people gave us their pennies.

Then we'd go the The Archers pub for sweets. Bonfire Night was always a magic occasion. Stay up late, get dirty, have fun with our parents as we watched our Dads light the rockets from the old milk bottles and set off the Catherine Wheels.

What simple fun we enjoyed back then!

From junior school Yvonne went on to Churchfields Comprehensive School and moved home to 48 Walsall Road, Stone Cross, West Bromwich.

Her working life included two workplaces: Kenrick & Jefferson and National Chemsearch.

She remembers so many people from her younger days that we will mention only the following: Diane Harris, Hazel Andrews, Anne Simcox, Pauline Baggott, Sheila Cross, Diane Rosser, Ian Hill, David Brace, Chris & Kevin Wallace -- the list goes on.

Yvonne Powell, Australia, 2002