Since starting the Shipyard Girls series I have been bowled over by the amount of support I have had from so many people and organisations. Special thanks must go to John Wilson, owner of Fulwell Post Office, Sunderland, and his lovely staff for their continuing support and promotion of the Shipyard Girls series; Rachel Emmett, of the Salvation Army, for helping me with my research into Ivy House – the country’s first unmarried mothers’ maternity hospital; Meg Hartford, for unearthing specific historical facts and information on my behalf; Jackie Caffrey, creator of the Facebook group Nostalgic Memories of Sunderland in Writing; the ever-supportive Beverley Ann Hopper, of The Book Lovers; the National Maritime Museum; the Sunderland Antiquarian Society, especially Linda King, Norm Kirtlan, and Philip Curtis; and journalist Katy Wheeler at the Sunderland Echo.
I would also like to thank Pauline Martin, of South Tyneside Libraries and Dr Trish Winter, of the ‘Putting Southwick on the Map’ research project, for allowing me to indulge my passion of spreading the word about the forgotten women who worked in the Sunderland shipyards in World War Two.
I must also say a really big thank you to my editor Viola Hayden and assistant editor Cassandra Di Bello for their invaluable editorial advice and guidance, and to the rest of the talented team at Arrow.
As always, I am indebted to the fabulous Diana Beaumont, who really is the best literary agent anyone could wish for.
And, of course, to my mum and dad, Audrey and Syd Walton, and my husband, Paul, who keep me fuelled with so much love, care, support and encouragement.
Thank you.