大象传媒

Sometime in early 1944 I was taken away from my parents and put with a very nice couple in Sheepbridge Yorkshire.I was from a family of 7 so we had to be spilt up.My father who was in the National Fire Service,had to stay in Hounslow.My mother took us to Huddersfield football ground which served as reception centre.I remember being given a red cross parcel with some clothes in it.I am not sure of the dates as I was only 5 years old,and as both of my parents are now dead, I can not ask them for any help.I remember being picked out of a line and taken to my new foster parents in tears as I thought I was being given away.It took me a week or two to get used to being away from my brothers and sister.It was strange to say the least suddenly being an only child,with a new mum and dad in unfamiliar surroundings.I had to go to a new school as life still went on even though the war was still going on.Huddersfield must have a been a low risk area as we didn't get many air raid warnings ,like we had in Hounslow.I only saw my mother on very rare visits,and cried every time we had to leave.Of course we had no counciling in those days we just got on with life.I had my 6th birthday in October and to my great delight was given two hand made toys, a wooden truck and a model of HMS HOOD.It was many years later that I found out the fate of HMS HOOD when I read about it at a later date.But at the time on my birthday I thought they were great.Toys were few and far between in the war years,as they were low priority.In later life I gave them away to my 2 nephews,but I didn,t part with them until I was well into my teens.My foster parents were very kind to me and when I became more used to them got on very well.I was taken on a holiday to St.Annes on Sea next to Blackpool.It was the first time that I had seen the sea ,we had a great time playing on the beach.It must have been a break from the worries of the war.I know it did me good.When it came to be given back to my mother, it must have been very hard on my foster parents as they had no children of their own.I was upset, as by this time I thought I was their son.Getting used to going back to my family was again very upsetting.As a child you don't understand whats going on so well.I did write to them ,but never went back to see them when they were alive.I will always regret not doing so.I did take my wife, son and daughter to 83 Bradley Blvd on the 50th anniversary of VE day.It brought back many memories and I shed a tear when I saw that the house was boarded up.I hope someone did move into the house as it seems a shame for it to be empty.

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