大象传媒

ON ONE OF MY REGULAR VISITS TO LONDON, I CALLED IN AT PADDINGTON STATION. STROLLING THROUGH THE STATION MY THOUGHTS TURNED BACK TO MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4TH 1939. I ATTENDED SCHOOL AT ADDISON GARDENS BOYS. I LIVED WITH MY PARENTS AT THE TOP OF THE HOUSE AT 122 ADDISON GARDENS, WEST KENSINGTON.
WHEN WAR WAS DECLARED ON SUNDAY 3RD. SEPTEMBER, I WAS NINE YEARS OLD. WAR HAD BEEN EXPECTED FOR SOME TIME AND THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN HAD BEEN EVACUATED FROM THE CITIES, PRIOR TO THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES, TO ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, UNDER A GOVERNMENT SPONSORED EVACUATION SCHEME. SOME WERE EVEN SENT TO THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
MY FATHERS MOTHER AND SISTER HAD A SMALL DRAPERS SHOP IN PERRANPORTH, A VILLAGE ON THE NORTH CORNISH COAST SITUATED BETWEEN NEWQUAY AND ST.IVES.
IT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ARRANGED THAT IN THE EVENT OF WAR BREAKING OUT I WOULD BE PACKED OFF DOWN THERE. WAR WAS DECLARED ON SUNDAY 3RD. SEPTEMBER AT 11AM. THE AIR RAID SIRENS SOUNDED SHORTLY AFTER AND AGAIN DURING THE NIGHT, WHEN WE ALL TOOK SHELTER IN THE CELLAR. WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT BOTH WARNINGS TURNED OUT TO BE FALSE ALARMS. AND SO TO MONDAY 4TH.
MOTHER, FATHER AND MYSELF MADE OUR WAY TO PADDINGTON STATION, FOR MY JOURNEY ALONE TO CORNWALL, QUITE A DAUNTING PROSPECT FOR A NINE YEAR OLD. SO WITH MY PACKET OF PASTE AND JAM SANDWICHES, GAS MASK IN A GOVERNMENT ISSUE CARDBOARD BOX, A SHILLING (5P) IN MY POCKET AND A SMALL BAG OF CLOTHING, I BOARDED THE FAMOUS CORNISH RIVIERA EXPRESS, AND AFTER A TEARFUL GOODBYE, STEAMED OUT OF PADDINGTON STATION, NOT KNOWING WHEN I WOULD SEE MY PARENTS AGAIN.

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