大象传媒

In mid-August 1939 I arrived at Rookery Rd. School Handsworth to commence duties there.

Plans for evacuation were well in hand, so Pat, who had just joined the staff, and I who had no encumbrances were added to the list of staff to accompany the evacuees.

Belbroughton was to be our destination, & having lived in the remote parts of N. Herefordshire I hadn鈥檛 a clue where we were going.

Sept. 1st was to be evacuation day so normal school carried on as the events, which eventually led to the war, were worsening.

On the last day of August the final plans for evacuation were made, children showed mixed feelings 鈥� a nice change in the country, first time away from home, maybe, or the pangs of real, deep nervousness. The staff too were naturally apprehensive. For Pat & myself knowing little about the teachers and even less about the children 鈥� a real journey into the unknown.

Friday morning 1st Sept. arrived 鈥� we loaded the buses to take us to Hockley Heath station 鈥� 111 children and 11 teachers each with a small amount of luggage, plus the card-board box containing the gas mask slung round the neck. It was a lovely sunny day which cheered us up quite a bit.

At Hagley we were once again on buses and travelling through open country towards Belbroughton. The school was our destination and we were warmly welcomed with a hot drink & a bite in a very friendly atmosphere.

Slowly the crowd of children decreased as the placing in billets was worked out. Staff also moved off to their billets & Pat & I were escorted on foot, to the home of the Moores 鈥� the house and shop on the corner of Church Rd. They were elderly but did all they could possibly do to make us feel at home. The generation gap probably limited conversation to some extent but the thoughts of war had already numbed us considerably.

On Sunday 3rd Sept. Pat & I were escorted by them to church 鈥� Mr Moore was the organist & a real father figure.

Of course war was declared so our stay in Belbroughton was likely to be a long one and on Monday we were moved to another billet in High Street. During the weekend parents had come out to see their children and some children had been taken back home. Monday Sept 4th was our first get-together at the school which was of course already full of the local children & teachers, so we occupied our children out of doors & enjoyed the beautifl weather and luscious pears.

For about two weeks we worked a system of alternate am or pm recreation & classroom (am one week and pm the next) while arrangements were being finalised for us to go to Catshill modern School.

Recreation was games on the 鈥淩ec鈥� or going walks. Quite often I found myself taking the walkers & I enjoyed that immensely. On one occasion we went to Adam鈥檚 Hill, Clent and the children loved the toboggans. Everywhere was parched so when they fell off them and slid down the slopes their bottoms were almost raw. That didn鈥檛 please the folk at their billets but they鈥檇 had such fun.

One afternoon was spent in pea-picking at Bell Heath 鈥� that was really great for the fresh peas were delicious and so were the cakes & drinks brought out to us.

On Sept. 18th Catshill School was ready to take us. That very modern school had opened in May 1939 & was fairly full but it was possible for our children to go into their aga and ability classes. Our staff too were fitted in as well as was possible but for me, a needlework teacher, meant no niche so I taught anything and everything 鈥� some subjects worse than others.

Gradually our numbers decreased as things were quiet in B鈥檋am, so by Christmas only 4 of our staff remained and I was one of them.

As the male teachers were called up I became more versatile 鈥� gardening, boys P.E & games, craft etc. etc. However our numbers lowered again & I was called back to Rookery Rd. leaving just one of our staff in Belbroughton.

For me it was a very unhappy day 鈥� lots of tears from the children & staff and in me the build up of apprehension such as I had experienced when I arrived at Rookery rd in mid August. Still no needlework post so more general subjects and with unknown children. Life in Brum was very frightening 鈥� we experienced landmines etc & lived in shelters of course.

Then came the Doodle-bugs 鈥� children to be evacuated & I was able to return to Catshill but still no needlework post.

Anyhow the head of Catshill offered me a temporary post on his staff & I took it. No more hopping back to Brum for me!

To my surprise I was offered the post with the slower learners 鈥� a group I would have for most of the day & everyday to do project work with, embracing crafts (even needlework!) & visits 鈥� developing them through the visual and practical.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and set about each individual in my group with loving care hoping to enable them to have a good quality of life. It was necessary to hear everyone read each day and they came before 9am during break or lunchtime & their determination to get on almost wore me down for the ratio was 31 to one. After 5 years 鈥� perhaps the most rewarding I ever experienced, I was offered the needlework post in the school & remained there until 1950.

I lived in Belbroughton for 19 years, certainly long enough to feel a real part of the community 鈥� I always say 鈥淓vacuation changed my life鈥�. Belbroughton people welcomed us into their homes 鈥� they certainly served us well 鈥� I hope they felt we made some contribution in return. The names of Rum alley, Broom Hill, Hackman鈥檚 Gate, Stoneybridge, Hartle Lane, Bell Hall, Brookfields where our children & staff were billeted, and the four pubs, one at each corner of the village, will remain in my memory for ever.

Through W.I. in particular I have been able to maintain my connections and friends from 1939, knowing full well that Belbroughton played such an important part during the war as far as Rookery Rd. was concerned.

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