大象传媒

I was evacuated to Regina Sasketchewan, Canada in 1940 when I was 8. I went with my brother of 11 and we left our parents at home in London. My father was a pharmaceutical chemist and so we would be regarded as middle class. But although we had distant relatives in Regina, we did not know them at all. Because of the rules governing the accommodation of evacuee children, my brother lived in different houses, and saw very little of each other - only about twice a year. Therefore, I grew up hardly knowing my brother. Although we are on good terms now, we have never recaptured much filial feeling. I returned to the UK in 1945, and when I arrived in Euston station, neither my mother or myself recognized each other. She walked right past me!
My time in Canada was fun - but very strange, and I learnt to skate and ski etc. The weather was bitterly cold, and I can remember one day in a blizzard, having my ear and nose frozen. I wasn't desperately unhappy, but I learnt to be very independant (the couple I lived with had no children and I learnt afterwards that they wanted to adopt me) but there was little real affection there. But they were kind to me. However these experiences have left me with a terrible lack of confidence, and it took me a long time to come to terms with the idea that my parents thought they were doing the best thing for my brother and I. In fact, it was the worst possible thing - something that I will never really get over. On the other hand, it gave my a lot of independance, which I might not have had if I'd stayed with my parents, who had very strict ideas about upbringing etc. I shocked my mother by using lipstick when I returned aged 12 , and of course, I had to go back to wearing a school uniform, which I hated. I couldn' leave school quick enough, and didn't go to university until I was 34.

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