大象传媒

This story has been entered by Irfaan on behalf of Joan Gibson and she fully understands the conditions.

During the Second World War I lived on Scotswood Road in Newcastle Upon Tyne (next to the tank builders, Vickers) and was approximately 13 -14 years old. I knew that air raids were dangerous so I was evacuated with other kids to a small village named Workington, Cumbria. I lived with an elderly couple who didn鈥檛 have much experience with kids but they looked after me very well.

During my time there I had to call my mum because I caught chicken pox and had to go to hospital but I returned back to the village after a few days. My life was basically the same because I still went to school in Workington and there was a swimming gala. I also loved playing with my friends and going dancing at home but this stopped when I went to Workington.

I missed my family and home, my sister was a warden in the Air Raid Protection (ARP). I didn鈥檛 really write home but when I did I wrote in short hand, using symbols to abbreviate sentences. It made the letter more private. During my experience, food was rationed; the residents I lived with got one egg, two ounces of butter and a bit of bacon a week which was not much.

I had an Identity card which I carried around with my address and my name. This was necessary as I needed identity to prove I was English. The village I lived in was close by to Newcastle and it only took me ten minutes to arrive there by busses and trams. I returned home after a while and altogether I only lived in the village for four months. When the war was over everyone saved their rations to have street parties. I met my husband when I was dancing and we got married soon after. My husband was in the army over seas in Italy.

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