大象传媒

HOW ENGLAND BECAME MY SECOND HOMELAND.

My name is Elza De Bruyne. I am living in Gent, Belgium and I am 86. Last month I read your request for a 60 year old story about the end of the Second World War at the Library in Ferndown. . My friend suggested I gave it a try, but only after watching B.B.C. (here in Gent, at home) with all the celebrations about the end of the war and listening to the same request by one of your reporters I made a decision. It wasn鈥檛 easy to make a choice because I could tell you so many stories that they could fill a book. Unfortunately my hands are too bad to write a lot.

How England became my second homeland!

My first visit to England took place in 1946 when visitors were an exception but I got a special passport to complete my knowledge of English. I stayed with friends in High Barnet and saw the results of the Blitz over London.

My second visit was in 1948 and that was the start of many trips and many wonderful times with the best of friends. To keep it short here comes the reason. When Gent was liberated in September 1944 the schools were still closed and being a teacher I was able to help at the military hospital. I met lots of wounded English soldiers but even more R.A.F. men because 313 STC was stationed just round the corner.

One evening my cousin and I met an R.A.F. man lost in the middle of town. He looked so tired that we took him home and my parents and I offered him hospitality.

John Aston (that was his name) spent his free hours or days with us. Not for long, because he was transferred to Antwerp and later to Germany. When he was demobbed he came to say goodbye to my Mam
and promised to return with his family. And so happened: in August 1947. He stood at our front door with his wife Elsie and his two children, Wendy and Peter.

Wendy was seven and she is the one who took me to the library last month, 58years after our first meeting. From the first moment I met Elsie Aston she became a great friend and I don鈥檛 know how many times I visited them in London. Unfortunately, she passed away in 1964. In the meantime she had a second son, Richard, her daughter Wendy was married to Alf, and I became the proud Godmother of their first baby, Helen. They lived at Christchurch for many years, which means I know the place nearly as well as my own town.

How many times did I visit them? I honestly don鈥檛 know but every visit was for me the best of my year, and when they come to Gent I am 鈥榦ver the moon鈥�.

Wendy and Alf moved to Ferndown so needless to say I know the New Forest, Poole and Bournemouth and all the rest of Dorset like my own country. I love them all very much and consider them all as my own family. Want a proof? Last month Wendy and Alf came to pick me up with their car at my front door so that I could recover and have a complete rest in their large garden at Ferndown. I never felt better and after two weeks they brought that 86 years old 鈥淎untie Elza鈥� back.

So as much as we suffered during the war in the end I got acquainted to the best friends ever, to their way of life and to England.

P.S. I have a second Godchild in England that is a son to a cousin of mine who married a R.A.F. pilot. But that is another story for next time!

Miss Elza De Bruyne
Casinoplein 1
9000 Gent
Belgium.

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The above story refers to Cpl JOHN ASTON 841933 who was stationed at Cardington May, 1941, Kirkham, Lancs. 1942. His brother-in 鈥攍aw, RON GOSLING, (married to Joyce Stanton, with four sons) was also in the R.A.F. but unfortunately we have lost touch with him. Last heard of in New Zealand, so if anybody can confirm his whereabouts now it would be very much appreciated.

The photos following are of: 1) Elsie and John Aston during WWII
2) The De Bruyne Family whose hospitality has been welcomed and appreciated by so many over the years.
3) Elza enjoying Dorset in June 2005.

And finally 4) A photo of RON GOSLING with his eldest son Tony
This may jog the memory of somebody and any feedback would be most welcome

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