- Contributed byÌý
- tivertonmuseum
- People in story:Ìý
- Joyce Owens and Mother.
- Location of story:Ìý
- Leytonstone, London to Tiverton and Cullompton.
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A7970466
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 22 December 2005
This story was submitted to the people war Website by a volunteer from Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life on behalf of Joyce Owens.
JOYCE OWENS (NEE WAGER)
In 1940 I was 11 years old and I was evacuated with my school from Leytonstone, London to Tiverton. I clung to my friend (we were both only children) and vowed to stick together. We thought it a great adventure to come to Devon. My mother gave me a stamped addressed postcard which I had to send back to her with information about where I was billeted. She wrote back to me saying how lucky I was to be staying in Devon. She probably thought I would be heartbroken being away from home (although in reality I was excited) and told me to view it as a great big holiday. She also said I was very fortunate because people usually came to Devon for their honeymoon!
We arrived at Tiverton market and were given refreshments and then we had a medical examination and were taken to Cullompton to the local school. We sat on desk seats and waited for someone to pick us. A very kind lady agreed to take both of us plus another child. We stayed with her for 3 years.
At the height of the blitz in London my Mam’s house was bombed and so Aunty Liza (the lady looking after me) invited Mam to come and stay with us together with a young cousin.
My friend’s mother also came to stay — it was only a small cottage!
In 1943 I left school and returned to Leytonstone to my parents and found work. The doodlebugs had made an appearance by then and I remember having to dodge them on my way to and from work.
At the end of the war I was working as a receptionist at the Ritz Hotel and I remember going to Buckingham Palace to celebrate VE Day.
When the war finished in Japan I was visiting Cullompton and took part I the street parties there.
At a postscript I met my future husband while I was an evacuee. He was Cullompton born and bred and was a regular in the Navy during and after the war.
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