大象传媒

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I was evacuated August 1940, I was six years old. My mother decided to put my name on the evacuation list because the Germans were bombing regularly around the docks, railway station and works where our pub, The Cromwell in Lower Gosford Street (my home), was located. My father had volunteered to join the Army when war was declared and my brother was waiting to be called up. My mother had to run the pub by herself and she thought I would be safer evacuated.
The day of my evacuation was not a happy one, it was the first time I had been away from my mother. As much as I can remember, I was taken to school (St Hilda's) as normal except I had a case packed with my clothes and my gas mask, in its hard cardboard box. We assembled in the school hall, my name was called and I had a label with my name printed on it pinned to my coat, my case was checked so that I had everything I needed. From the school we walked along Snowden Road (a long road) to Bridge Street West, another long walk, to Middlesbrough Railway station. We waited for the train to arrive; from the platform I could see my home and I cried, I wanted to go home. The train arrived, we got on and I don't know how long the journey took to get to our destination. I think we arrived at Bowes somtime during the afternoon.
On arrival we walked to the school hall (another long walk). Once again our names were called and then we met the people who we were to live with. I was billeted with Mr and Miss Dent. he was a farmer landowner and governor of Barnard Castle Boys School. My new address was Acacia Villa, Bowes, Barnard Castle, County Durham. I have very happy memories. I learned to play conkers, helped to pick hip, haw, sloe and elderberries, attended my first Harvest Festival and got into trouble for getting messed up while muck spreading.
I was evacuated for nine months. I was brought home becuse I had very bad tonsilitis and was admitted to North Ormesby Hospital to have my tonsils and adenoids removed. I didn't return to Bowes because Mr Dent decided to take in Land Army girls. I was evacuated again, to a place called Carville, near Durham City. I didn't like it there one bit, but that's another story.

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