大象传媒

In 1944 my mother, who at the time was pregnant with me was told to leave Woolwich, where she lived with my sister who was about 18 months at the time, my father was in the R.A.F. A special train was laid on to take the evacuees to Blackpool. My mother travelled in a carriage with a friend also heavily pregnant and their children. As at the time trains were very vunerable to bombing the train journey took a very long while,my mother informed me that they and the children didn't have any food or drink and they and the children were exhausted at the end. They didn't realise they should have been in the carriage for pregnant mothers, which they found out too late.

All the families were taken to a large hall in Blackpool where one by one they were picked by the residents to live with them. My mother and her friend were the only two adults left with their children, she said to me it was probably because we were pregnant. Eventually my my was taken by a local policeman who started knocking on the doors of the local houses. One lady of a house in Blackpool said she had a room but she had a gentleman due to come on a day, whereas my mum said that's when my baby is due. The room was at the top of the house, my mum said she had to struggle, heavily pregnant and towing my sister without any help from this lady, (how unkind was that). The day I was due my mum was so worried about being thrown out she took caster oil to bring on labour which it did.

My mum was taken to the Hydro Hotel in Clevelys which was taken over by the civil service for pregnant mothers. At the same time my sister was taken away to be looked after.

My mum had a difficult time after having me so therefore was at the Hydro Hotel for 7 months, she had nothing but praise for the care she & I received there.

When it came for us to leave, my sister couldn't be found. It was such a scandal at the time that my mum said it was headline news in the local newspaper. Eventually a local vicar took control and my sister was found. When my mum saw her all her curls had been cut off, she wouldn't cuddle my mum, and the first time my mum gave her a bath she screamed, so she assumed she had been badly treated, maybe being scalded in the bath.

I have related the story as told to me by my mum.

Last year I tried to visit the place of my birth at Clevelys but all there is nothing left of the Hydro Hotel. I visited a local library and was able to find out details Hydro in war time and there were photos of the actual building there too.

I am recounting this story in memory of my wonderful mum and dad who went through many heartaches in the war years.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.