Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette

What was Christmas in Essex like in the 1940s, the 50s or 60s?

Our Wednesday lunchtime presenter Bob Simpson has been chatting to Billericay resident Daphne Norris.

Bob has been playing a request for Daphne every week, but has taken her participation

Daphne was born in Southend but moved to Hutton and Shenfield very soon afterwards, also living in Mountnessing before settling in Billericay, where she has lived for 65 years.

She talks to Bob about her wartime childhood and her memories of the local area during that time and how they impacted Christmas.

Daphne’s recollections are really interesting and I have enjoyed listening to them – they have been a fascinating insight on what lives was like decades ago in our community.

The chats are being serialised over three weeks on Bob’s weekly show, with an hour-long special on air on at 2pm on Christmas Day.

If you miss them you can also hear them again at phoenixfm.com.