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My father was a station-master at Romaldkirk village, County Durham. Forty children arrived there as evacuees, sent from the city. The rector was the billing officer and had to find homes for the children, their luggage and gasmasks. My dad brought two children home, as he felt sorry for them. They were offered apple pie, and they said they ‘didn’t like it’.
They lived with us for one month, sleeping together. My sister and I doubled up to accommodate them. Their aunt arrived to take them home, but the boy ran away and had to be manhandled back onto the train.
I started work on February 15th. 1945 at Raby Estate. I was 14 years old. I was instructed to dress a tree to make a flagpole. The management must have known we would win the war. The flagpole was erected in the centre of Middleton-in-Teesdale. The wood yard was full of shrapnel that had been found in the trees felled in the woods.
I was aware of the war at 14 years of age — two uncles never came back. I also recall a telegram coming with the news of Uncle Joe ‘missing, presumed dead’. I still live on the farm and am 75 years of age.

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