大象传媒

My world changed in 1940. Parents were asked to evacuate children in my area including me, not because of the bombing though. The reason in our area, Great Barr, Birmingham, was the risk from typhoid. To me it was an adventure. The worst thing was having to leave my dance classes.

Finally we were ready to go, complete wtih our gas masks and name tags. Our destination was Nottingham and for me the sleepy village of Ruddington. My first night was spent with two kind ladies. I remember a big feather bed, it was strange!

The next morning I was placed with a family with an only child just like I was. I went to the same little private village school as my new friend. In the middle of the only classroom there was a big pot-bellied fire. It was all very different from the school I was used to. I was ten years old and definitely the odd one out! But I settled in and after two weeks my parents came to visit and made friends with the adults. I had missed them both very much.

After a few months there were bombings in Nottingham, nearer to me than any had been at home, so my parents decided to take me home. I returned to the air raids of Birmingham. It was a way of life by then and it happened to me!

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Anastasia Travers a volunteer with WM CSV Actiondesk on behalf of Barbara Stokes and has been added to the site with his permission. Barbara Stokes fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

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