Date of Birth: 31st March 1921

Place of Birth: Selskar, Wexford

Date Interviewed: 6th October 2008

Summary: In Part One George Bridges looks back on his childhood in the Selskar area of Wexford town. His parents owned a shop selling fruit and ice-cream and his father was a hairdresser. He describes the street games he and his friends played and the fun they had on Wexford’s quays. He joined the scouts at 13 and is still involved. George remembers enjoying a fortnight’s camping in Dunmore East for just £1! At 17 he started his first job in Liptons. After several jobs he responded to a recruitment campaign and took a boat to England during WW2. While working there he observed the preparations for the D-day landings. He was also a volunteer with a fire service and had to deal with incendiary bombs. In Part Two George, talks of his involvement with the Young Christian Workers, a movement that started in Belgium. They began a ‘Good Friday’ campaign, made contact with Irish people living in the U.K., and set up tents for holidaymakers in Curracloe. He was involved with plays and pantomimes in St. Iberius and the Theatre Royal. His father died in 1945 and George got involved in the family business, bringing back stock from Dublin on the bus. George became the Irish agent for Hornby and Mecanno – “a great toy”. In 1950 he began to sell fishing tackle and a fishing club was formed. It was not unusual for George to found working in the toy shop till 6am on Christmas day.