The Shields Gazette 23/08/1943 reports:
“High praise of the efficiency of the work of the Rest Centres personnel and other ARP workers in the South Shields district was bestowed by the Deputy Regional Commissioner for the North Regional area of Civil Defence, Mr. J.J. Lawson, M.P. when he visited the district.
When he was asked to be allowed to come out and speak to the women who had helped so magnificently when the bombs were falling, he never expected to face such a demonstration as he saw before him.
“You almost terrify me,” he said. “I would feel more at home addressing the House of Commons”.