大象传媒

Having lost both mother and father before the war, I evacuated, when war began, with my sister with her school as a voluntary helper. We evacuated first near to Southend but quickly were moved to Coleford in the Forest of Dean. Here I was appointed as Assistant Billeting Officer to the Forest of Dean in Coleford.

Visiting suitable homes for the children could often provide great difficulties but with the help of the Red Cross, WI and other organisation I quickly became both very busy and successful and was given three other ladies to help me.

One day the head of the Forest of Dean told me that my work was so satisfactory I would be in charge, in future, of all the necessary billeting. What he did not tell me was that we were to receive within seven days, elderly residents from the South Coast who were being forced to leave at very short notice. Here the problems really started. Two hundred old people moved, without a warning, from their homes. The problems were many and the help previously given by the Red Cross etc. was not very helpful. They had had to leave everything 鈥� some owing rent and other problems. They came to see me and begged for a free pass to go home (usually to Eastbourne) but of course this was not safe and I had to refuse. One lady then wrote to the King and much to my surprise had a very thoughtful reply!

Having so many problems I got in touch with London and asked for help. I was told that somebody would come and see me and that I must have all my troubles listed. The day arrived and a lady came with a friend from London and asked me to tell her of all the problems. Since I had anticipated this I had a list ready and went through everything with her. At the end she took my list and added many points and then as leaving said

鈥淭hank you very much. I am Lady Reading and am starting something which I am calling the 鈥楥ITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU鈥� and yours is the first one.鈥�

How proud I am to see so many of these all over the country and to realize that I was involved with the very first one!

From there I fairly soon moved to Bletchley Park to continue work of accommodation for very VIP鈥檚 from London, America and elsewhere. This was very different - finding, having been for a code - suitable accommodation for people for only one night, very important people, but not being able to tell anybody who was coming to the Park for perhaps just one night. What a difference!

I have many interesting memories which are actively with me all the time.

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