大象传媒

I sincerely wish that I knew the date but am certain that it was in August 1944. No attempt was made for my family to be involved in any kind of evacuation until the doodle bugs started. I recall my mother and I going to Hawes Down School in West Wickham, Kent, to board buses that were parked in the playground. We were then conveyed to Euston Station and then by train to St. Helens. The train journey was most exciting for me as we were being hauled by steam, in my home area we had only electric trains !

Upon our arrival at St. Helens, we later learnt, local people were wanting to take in the evacuees but they were all turned away as arrangements had already been made for us. It seems that these arrangements were devised by people finding out who had spare unused rooms in their houses and then we were allocated to such places.
We were conveyed by bus to Grange Park School which was used as a Rest Centre, we were fed and all the boys were taken out into the school field and we played Rounders, the Gym Master of the school was responsible for us.
After a nights sleep we were taken to our new abode in Prescot Road, Thatto Heath. This was the home of the Dunn's. He was an R.A.F officer who travelled to and from his base each day in his own car and his wife stayed at home looking after their baby. We were clearly not wanted, the fact that my dad was a commissioned officer in the Royal Navy had no bearing on the way we were treated. My mother was confined to the kitchen and was only allowed to have a back door key, we were not posh enough to use the front door !
The Dunn's employed an Irish housekeeper who was so appalled by the way her employer treated us that she resigned her position and Mrs. Dunn blamed my mother for that.
It was also so embarrassing and frustrating that my mother was constantly asking the Billeting Officers to rehouse us, they made promises but never fulfilled them until one day she stated that if they do not find us alternative accommodation the two of us will return to "London". It seemed to be a magic word, within hours they arrived and conveyed us to another house in Nutgrove Road. This house was literally two up and two down. Louis Woods took her two children into the back room and allowed my mother and I the front room. Unlike the other address I was expected to have my friends in the house, my mother was allowed a FRONT door key, we came to know the family, I was treated as though I was one of their sons and my mother was given great respect by all. We were invited to their homes.

I came to realise from this that the people of Lancashire are truly genuine and very kind, I have no idea where the Dunn's came from but they certainly were not of good Lancashire stock.

About thirty years ago I met up with Louis Woods again and on this occasion was also able to meet her ex-soldier husband who had been away on active service when I was living in his home.

I know that many folk were evacuated, I would love to meet up with others who may have a variety of tales to tell.

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