Dr Alan Dowling was born in 1932 at the Model Dwellings, a block of working-class flats on the corner of St. Luke's Street and Midland Street near the centre of Hull. He was the last of eight children. In this self-published memoir, Alan gives an insight into the lives of his parents (both born in Hull) and his experiences growing up in Hull where the family opened a bakery shop on Walker Street (no. 117) which later sold more general groceries. He then goes on to describe what life was like in Hull during the Second World War and his family's move to Leeds and subsequent return to Hull after the war ended. He describes his education in post-war Hull and his National Service 1950-1952. Alan eventually became a Librarian taking up senior roles first in Scunthorpe and, later, Grimsby. He retired in 1988, aged 55 and embarked on his doctoral studies in 1989. There is a series of photographs at the end of the memoir with a mainly family theme. Alan died 27 Aug 2018 at St. Andrew's Hospice, Grimsby.

Available to view in the searchroom at C SRL/R Box 13.