大象传媒

Mr Chamberlain had been in Germany for talks and returned saying 鈥淧eace in our Time鈥�, in September 1939. Shortly after, on a warm Sunday morning, I was sent a message to Willington Square, from my home in Wallsend. I was skipping along quite happily, when there was an awful wailing sound. A group of men on the other side of the road told me to hurry home as there was an air raid.

Shortly after we were to be evacuated, and had to go to school early one morning, with our clothes in a bag. My brother and I just had a sand bag each. We were marched to the station and taken to Hexham cattle market where we were put into pens to await the coach to take the first of us to different places. We were given a bag of cakes which were very dry, but were a veritable feast to us as in 1930 there was a depression and very little work.

A coach took some of us to a place called Cambo and to our different billets. My Brother and I went to a place called Scots Gap, on a farm. He was in one cottage and I was in another. The farmhouse was owned by a Gentleman farmer. When we arrived it was very hot so we were given fresh milk bread and butter and we had a picnic.

I stayed with a young couple and their niece and my bother stayed with an elderly couple who had no children. Mr Craven who I stayed with looked after the horses and the other one looked after the cows.

The school we went to was quite a distance, and most of the time we had to walk there. It was just one large room divided by partitions. There was one teacher and one from the town. So at times our teacher took us for nature study walks which I loved. We also did the garden.

At Christmas there was a party in the Church Hall which was just around the corner from Wallington Hall and Sir Charles and Lady Trevelian came and took part. Like everyone else they tried to get my brother to join in the dancing but to no avail as he thought it was sissy.

We helped in the hayfields; I could skin a rabbit and have it ready in the pot in twenty minutes. Quite an achievement!

Sunday night was the highlight of the week, we went to chapel. They had an anniversary and I received a bible for reading poetry. I still have the bible to this day.

Mrs Craven was very kind but firm and treated me the same as her nieces. One day I came in from play and my mother was there having a row with Mrs Craven. My bags were packed and my mother took me home that day. I was made to stand in queues and made to do housework and run after the family.

Lots of children drifted back to the towns and cities as things were very quiet. It was called the Phoney War. We had a brick shelter in the back yard to share with the family downstairs. My mother never made it comfortable or prepared anything for us as some parents did.

The raids started to get very bad and the Ack Ack guns weren鈥檛 very far from us and the noise was terrible. We got no rest. It was said that but I don鈥檛 know if it was true, that this area would have had more damage but for the guns. Everyone was asked to donate pots and pans and metal objects. All metal railings were taken from around buildings and parks and schools 鈥� the country wasn鈥檛 prepared for war and we were expecting to be invaded. Thank goodness it didn鈥檛 happen.

Once again we were evacuated and it was a reprieve for me to get away from all the work! My father had been given an allotment and I was able to supplement our meals. My sister had turned five and could be evacuated with my brother and myself. I was responsible for them. My sister and I went to Keenly near Allendale. My brother was taken to Corbridge to stay with two elderly sisters and their brother.

We stayed with a Mrs Chat a very gentile lady who looked after her old aunt who was bed bound. The cottage was on it鈥檚 own at the top of a hill and the place was very cosy. The table had a lovely cloth on it with china cups and saucers. She only had one friend who visited. The bed had a feather mattress and a patchwork quilt. It was lovely to get a good night鈥檚 sleep.

The only store was in Whitfield.

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