大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Elizabeth Perez of Stockport Libraries on behalf of Patricia Hayes and has been added to the site with her permission. She fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

My twin sister Betty and I were evacuated with the school to Darwen. We heard that war had been declared in church. We shared school hours with Darwen pupils, one week mornings, one week afternoons. We had to use a small chapel in the winter because of thick snow preventing access to the Grammar School. The doctor had to ride a horse to make visits. Troops were called in to clear the snow from the town centre.

Five black children, all one family, were left in the collection hall till the last, so the local vicar took them all, he wasn't one of the foster parents either, and he kept them all for years. When he moved he took them with him. I tracked down the youngest child fifty odd years later, and he came to the talk we were giving to school chidlren - that's where I met him for the first time since he was five years old - sliding about on the ice in his new boots. The vicar bought the whole family new boots.

We had a wonderful six months in Darwen. We learned to talk with their dialect. Then the school in Manchester was made safe for our return.

We returned to the Manchester Blitz! We watched the criss-cross pattern of the search lights every night, and spent many hours in the Anderson Shelter.

At 14 we joined the first Youth Centre at Victoria Avenue, Higher Blackley, and stayed with it till we were 19 or 20. We met our husbands there, who eventually went into the army for two and a half years doing natinal Service. Some friends never came back!

Summer holidays were spent visiting the local parks where entertainment was laid on either by local drama groups or ENSA - concerts, dances, games etc. Sometimes we dug for victory in Homes Chapel, Cheshire for a week away from home. The cinemas were open on Sunday nights and gave two different films during the weekdays. Fish and chips were not rationed so that completed the evening's treat.

Yes we enjoyed our youth - we were lucky to come through the war and have so many happy memories.

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