大象传媒

In 1944 pupils from Sutton East School in Surrey were evacuated to Dukinfield near Manchester in Cheshire because of the bombing in and around London. We left in buses to go from Cheam station as a bomb had dropped on Sutton Station, I was in the care of Peggy, the big girl next door who was 2-3 years older than me. I was 8 years old then, we were told to stay together no matter what happened.
We arrived in Dukinfield in the evening and taken to a big hall where people were waiting to collect us, the hall gradually emptied until there were only two couples and Peggy and me left. It was decided that I should go with one couple who had a daughter about 2 years older than me and that Peggy would go with the other couple who didn't have any children as we couldn't be housed together, luckily they only lived around the corner from mine.
I expect it was difficult to take in a strange child but I was to discover that my hosts really wanted someone older to skivvy for them and I often found some of the tasks difficult and sadly temper and physical violence came my way.
On a lighter note I enjoyed the School I went to and did quite well there, I also remember we went to Morecambe Bay for a week staying in a B and B, out at 9am not back before 6pm and NO SAND. It poured with rain for the whole week, we couldn't go on the beach because of the defences and barbed wire, so we sat in the shelters on the front a jolly time was not had by all!
I saw quite a lot of Peggy and stayed with her hosts when mine went away however she went home early as she was needed there.
I returned home in July 1945 in time for Mum to take me to London for the Victory Parades. I think I would have rather stayed at home though.
I kept in touch with Peggy鈥檚 hosts for the next 20 years until they passed away. Of mine nothing more was heard. I lost contact with Peggy as her family moved away after the war.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.