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Good comes from evil (part 3)
Much of my earlier years is quite sketchy — but I do remember when I was about 13 and at the end of the war most of the evacuees had returned home to London to once again be re-united with their families. As I had no family to return home too my foster mother asked if I could stay with her. The following is a letter she wrote to the council with this request.
28th Sept 1944
Dear Sir,
I should be very pleased if I could keep June with me when the war is over. June has been living with for nearly four years and she really seems to be just one of us, she wants to stay with me, and I think she has really never thought about going away, I have grown very fond of June and I think she has of me. During the time June has been with me, she has not been visited, or received any communication from any relatives, I was under the impression June was alone and had no one. But no matter if she has or not I would like very much to keep her with me, she is a nice child and has never been any trouble whatever and she seems to belong here. I would not like June to go away.
Yours sincerely, LSK
When this came into my hands some 40 years later I was very touched.
After many of my friends had left the village I felt rather alone as some of the teachers still didn’t feel too kindly with the evacuees although now few in number, one thing that comes to mind, one of the teachers needed a note delivered the other end of the village, I offered, but this was turned down until there was no one else available and then I got the job, this happened many times, in the end I got quite used to being rejected although at the time it was quite hurtful, unfortunately I was never able to tell anyone about such instances.
I left school at 14 and started work in a Commercial Stationers I enjoyed this work and was well trained in knowing all about printing, typewriters, duplicators etc. I was beginning to gain more confidence. I was now really accepted within the village and began to take part in village life. It was 3 years later when I was 17 I was told by the Council I had a brother 20 months younger than me, he lived in Shropshire and worked on a farm. It was several months before arrangements could be arranged for us to meet.
It was decided that I along with my foster mum would be taken to see my brother John in Shropshire, he was given just 2 hours off from the farm. Apparently we went for a walk, this meeting at first proved a little awkward as we were both very quiet and reserved. It seemed quite strange for me as I had always been told I had no living relatives. After our first meeting it was agreed that John would spend a holiday in my village which went well, he also came the following year. We still keep in touch and meet up from time to time. In 1957 I left Elstow and came to work in London, but still visited Elstow and spent many of the holidays with my foster mum. It was in 1962 after the death of my foster mum that a letter was handed to me, the following is a few extracts from this letter.
My dear one
Enclosed you will find a birth certificate, when I asked the council after the war if you could stay with me, they agreed willingly, you had been to me like my very own daughter and I had loved you with a mothers love like I have with my son Jim. The reason I didn’t tell you your name was different because you know what villages are like and you were known in Elstow as June Stillman. I know June this will be a blow to you, forgive me for not telling you before. Now my dear one, God bless you and guide you in all you do and prosper you, for you have grown into a woman I am proud of and love like my very own daughter.
With much love LSK
What a lovely foster mum, I only wished I had realized this when I was younger.
It was in 1987 I managed to get my ‘In Care File’ and find there were 3 more sisters and another brother, but that’s another story.
June Stillman

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