大象传媒

I was 9 years old and I lived in Orkington, Kent, with my mother and father, and they kept me home until the Doodlebugs came. And then with the rest of my school, we were put on a train, and went to North Wales. My surname the was Garratt, and because of my Italian origins, I was called Doreen instead of Desmearallda. We were all taken to the local school in this very small lovely village and people came and chose us. I was chosen by Mr. and Mrs. Evan Jones, and went to live in Gosen Chapel House. Next door to Gosen Chapel I went to the village school and learnt to speak Welsh. And I sang in a Welsh Eistford in another chapel and I won third prize. I miss my Mum and Dad very much, but loved where I lived. My time in Wales to me was wonderful away from all the bombing and the stress. The village was surrounded by mountains and one night, a Canadian Aeroplane crashed onto the mountain. All were killed. And horrid children we were, we climbed the mountain and picked up aeroplane glass which we made rings of. I'd grown up in London and moved to Kent in 1942. We lived 2 miles from Biggin Hill Aerodrome. So to be sent to Wales with mountains and sea, was very peaceful. When I came home at the end of the war, I lost contact with my foster parents. When I was married and had children, and went back, I was made very welcome, and I then kept in contact until they died. And I was very happy to have been in such a loving community, and Wales has a very strong pull for me.

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