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In 1939 I was 6 years old and living in Croydon with my mother and brother. The evacuation was well organised, my mother had a list of what I had to take. She had sat up all night making me a back pack.

We met at the school, where we were taken away by bus. We were taken to Croydon train station which took us directly to Polegate. We were taken to the local infants school where we waited to be picked. I remember us all sitting down and a girl singing ‘Any Umbrellas.’ I remember feeling sad as my friends began leaving with other people.

I was chosen to stay with a Mrs Woods and her 17 year old daughter Linda. That night I had to share a bed with Linda. The next day I was taken away by the billeting officer, largely I think because I had to share a bed.

I was then taken to stay with Mr and Mrs Waghorn and their 17 year old daughter, Mary. I was given the spare room. I was treated very well. To Mary I was like the sister she never had.

After Dunkirk I moved back to Croydon, however I continued to go back to Polegate for holidays once travel restrictions were lifted.

While I was living at Croydon the Blitz started. I regularly remember seeing dog fights happening overhead from our back garden. Later on in the war, the flying bombs would come at all hours. I do remember one incident when I was all alone and frightened as the bombs fell and I was alone in the air raid shelter.

One time while I had measles I was unable to go to the shelter because I was infectious with measles and not to be in contact with other people. I had to sleep under the stairs, which again was very frightening for a child.

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