A Spoonful of Sugar

A True Story of Life as a Norland Nanny

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A Spoonful of Sugar

By: Brenda Ashford

Narrated by: Nicolette McKenzie

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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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Brenda Ashford is 91 years old and spent 62 years working as a Norland Nanny. Brenda began training at the Norland Institute in 1939 at the age of 18, shortly before war was declared. Even as a nervous young trainee, Brenda was determined to give the children in her care a wonderful childhood. She worked with evacuees from the East End, as well as in the nurseries of smart Kensington homes. She frequently put her life at risk, dashing to air raid shelters with her charges clutched to her chest. But the war was also a time when people pulled together like never before or since, and it called upon Brenda to make sacrifices she'd never imagined having to make....

Brenda AshfordNicolette McKenzieSoundings

War

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I loved this book. I myself had a nanny who stayed with me till I was 16, then she was doing monthly new babies. I love this book as it is just what a really good genuine Nanny is all about. She lived till she was 97 and looked after 100 charges. She was writing her memories but they have disappeared. I loved mine, far more than my mother. I really salute these women who mostly never marry, just look after other peoples children. Nanny to many but mother to none. If you want to find out what Nanny is about listen to this book. To this day people employ a nanny, those who can afford them.

Great description of a classic Nanny

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A brilliant testimonial about a childhood before WWII and working as a nanny during the war. Lovely speaker and the story is enriched by classical poems, songs and lullabies.

Wonderful!

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A very go listen, a very moving story ,i would recommend this book to anyone who like 's a bit of history on how it happened has a nanny years ago.

A great book

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Not being able to afford a Norland nanny, I've wanted to give the same experience to my toddler - this was such a lovely listen. As well as having some good ideas, it is a superb biography, set in wartime England during the 1930s and 1940s. The audio book also reinforces how fun and unconditional love needs to be an important part of every childhood.

What other book might you compare A Spoonful of Sugar to, and why?

Anything with WWII evacuees

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The nurse who made childhood fun, even in wartime.

A cosy, comforting listen and wonderful story

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes if they liked books of this type (Call the Midwife for example)

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Spoonful of Sugar?

The children from inner cities reactions to being in the countryside during the war

What about Nicolette McKenzie’s performance did you like?

Lovely voice and didn't mood silly voices for the children!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The children from inner cities reactions to being in the countryside during the war

Any additional comments?

This book started off interesting to me with the surprise that Brenda spent her childhood in the little village I did (I was unaware of this before starting the book).

If you like Call the Midwife then you will like this book, on a whole it's less dramatic but at least it is all real (where as Call the Midwife goes into great long details and conversations that the author wasn't even there let alone remembers accurately).

It was very interesting to hear of how life used to be and the priorities people had at the time. It's written well and makes you feel like you get to know the people in the book.

Even better than Call the Midwife

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