I saw the airship R101 before I lived in Sheringham. It was 1931 and on that day I was in the country. I also saw the German airship the Hindenburg in 1936, it seemed to be gliding along the coast, not on the horizon but very close in and over the beach it seemed, going towards Weybourne. Rumour had it that it's occupants were spying to get information about where the British camps and airfields were. Although we didn't think much about it at the time, it could well have been right because Weybourne military camp was in being by then, and we were much closer to the second World War than we thought. Both airships subsequently crashed.

During the war, big rolls of wire netting were all along the beach. I suppose to deter or slow down any in-coming enemy, however there was one opening guarded by a soldier with rifle and wearing his tin hat and this was where local people could walk through to enjoy a section of sea and beach.

Sheringham had two picture houses and a concert hall, which remained open throughout the war.

Many of the well-to-do people put their homes and valuables into store or locked them up into one room of their house and went to live in less vulnerable places. Then, wherever there were empty properties, the government requisitioned them to house soldiers. The golf club, hotels and many private houses had soldiers living in them. Canteens were formed, where the forces could buy tea and snacks cheaply. Women mostly middle aged or elderly, voluntarily gave their services to run those places.

Knitting clubs were formed to knit socks and balaclava helmets for servicemen. The Boulevard was like a barrack square, where new recruits had to larn to march by instructions being 'bellowed' out from a sergeant.

There used to be a coastguard 'look-out' (now in use again) a small building at the top of the hill on the golf links. It was manned night and day (in shifts) during the war by 'middle aged or unfit men' who were not eligible for the forces, two of these men were a Mr Joe Pegg and a Mr Henry Long. During the second half of the war, just before dark the skyline over the sea would be 'black' with bombers going on bombing missions no doubt coming from the airfields - lots of them being in Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Sadly Sheringham was bombed about three times damaging properties and killing people, it seemed the enemy was getting rid of their loads before returning to their own bases and then machine gunning everywhere and everything as they left our coast.