Berwyn & District

The Mud Angels

It was Easter 1967 at Radbrook- an all girls college in Shrewsbury, and I was on a 3 year Institutional Management course. Along with a few friends as volunteers with International Voluntary Service, we were detailed to find our way to Florence to help clear the city after the river Arno broke over its banks.
We travelled by couchette from London to Florence. I was billeted, along with about 20 other international female Volunteers in an apartment block. There we slept on mattresses and shared a wash room (a cold tap 2 foot above a low sink and a loo) with 2 families. Washing my long hair in a bucket of cold water was a trial, and there was much excitement when the nuns said we could use their showers in the convent. All was dashed when the power went off, so back to the cold water bucket. We went across the street for a breakfast of a bowl of milky coffee and "energy rolls" Lunch and the evening meal were taken at a boys school.
The work for our team was led by an Italian student, with the International Volunteers working alongside a brown robed monk. We cleared homes and gardens of deep smelly mud after breakfast and in the afternoon. We were given free time and with our student union card had free access to museums and galleries. I was overwhelmed by the volume of pieces of art and vowed to return (which I did 20 years later!)
Easter Sunday was a highlight with wine served at lunch - we drank a little too much and fell asleep in the sun on the grass. The Easter break came to an end and I joined my friends, who had been working in the mountains in the snow, on our homeward journey back to college.
A memorable holiday for a little Welsh girl from the hills.

Brenda White Owen

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