大象传媒

This story was added to the website by Eleanor Fell on behalf of Kathleen Eves, who has given her permission for her story to go on the website.

I was born in South London: the youngest member a large, close-knit loving family. My father died when I was three as a result of his war service.

The date was 1st September 1939, and I was a tennager we had been told to arrive at school at 8 a.m. complete with a haversack containing change of clothing, a second pair of shoes and sandwiches to last the day. We had no idea where we were heading. Eventually we were lined up in classes and marched the mile to the nearest railway station.

We sat on the railway station a long time - it was so hot! Eventually we were packed in a train going south - we travelled very slowly with frequent stops, and arrived at Chichester Station at about 3p.m. We were then marched to the local Boys High School where we were counted (again!) and then put in small groups in under the supervision of a complete stranger. I was the last child in the group to be placed - I wanted to go home!!

My host and hostess were a young couple married quite recently - they certainly could have done without a teenager disturbing their love nest! They obviously didn鈥檛 want me, but they were kind. The husband, Stan, went into the Army a short while after my arrival. I stayed with Alice for nearly four years. Was I happy? NO, NO!! - I missed my large, happy family - it was so QUIET with just Alice!

Originally we shared the Girls High School, but this was not very satisfactory - it was too crowded. The Bishop of Chichester, Bishop Bell, eventually went to serve in the Forces and he generously allowed us to use the Bishop's Palace as a school - we didn鈥檛 realise what a privilege this was - the building was centuries old and very beautiful.

Our Music Teacher was a 'lady' her hair was in a bun and she wore thick tweeds and flat shoes. Our music lessons took place in the Drawing Room - a very large room with a grand piano and highly polished wooden floor. We were seated on the floor round the piano and were told to "sit up straight, we are now going to sing Nymphs and Shepherds鈥�. Oh, how boring!!

I remember looking up at the ceiling for inspiration and noticing the large wooden panels of which the ceiling was made - each panel contained the Coat of Arms of a Bishop - I was fascinated. I have been hooked on history ever since, and at nearly 80 I am still studying history!

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