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Our small cottage — two rooms up and down with a small front porch — was very well occupied during the 1939 — 1945 War. There wasn’t a bathroom, flush toilet or hot water, so no luxuries. My Father, Fred Le Seelleur, had to go in the army so it was just myself, Phyllis, age 6 and my mother Winifred Le Seelleur living there to start with.
Our evacuee, Pat Clayden, came to us in 1940 at the age of 12. Pat and her sister, Irene, has been billeted with another person in Gunnislake but they weren’t very happy so it was decided to move them. They had been told that it might not be possible to be together again. Fortunately for them they weren’t far apart. We had Pat and Irene was in another home just a few minutes away so they didn’t lose contact.
Pat seemed very happy with us, her high-light being taking part in a local talent competition singing ‘Danny Boy’ and winning the cup. When Pat became 14 in 1942 she returned to her parents. We are in contact to this day and her family have become part of ours. Over the years she has visited with her family. In fact when my mother had dementia at the age on 92 on one occasion when I visited her, the local Salvation Army Officer was there. She asked my Mother if I was the only child, to which she replied, ‘No, there was some-one else wasn’t there.’ I said, ‘Do you mean Pat?’ and she said ‘Yes.’ By this you can tell what an impact Pat had on our lives.
During Pat’s stay we had an old gent by the name of Mr Crowley with us (I think from Plymouth) and a Mr and Mrs Rooke and daughter Hazel from Plymouth. All rooms occupied and making the best of it. Later an Aunt and her baby stayed for a short while in 1943/1944 and also a Mr and Mrs Finch Mrs Hynes from Exeter also came for a short time when her husband was stationed at Gunnislake.
You can see that if there was a space my mother wouldn’t turn anyone away.
If there was a raid over Plymouth and we were on our own, the Blue Bird Toffee Tin would come out (it contained a few documents) and we would go to my Grandparent’s house until it ceased — I still have the tin.

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