大象传媒

I was nine and two months old on September 3rd. 1939. Today's nine year olds are connected. They know so much more than we did,for nothing in my life up to that point helped me to understand what was happening. To be honest, Chamberlain's declaration of war seemed rather exciting.
What did affect me was me evacuation to Northampton in the company of my older brother. Removing we kids from perceived danger was a well organised exercise. Dealing with our reception at the other end was another matter.
I well remember walking in a thirsty, tired and hungry crocodile behind the billeting officer while he knocked on doors, trying to persuade people to take my brother and I in. And to me, every door seemed to be firmly shut.
When we were finally settled and I started at my new school, to my youthful distain, it was back to block letters and pencil. Me, already skilled with real writing and pen and ink!
I took my all important 11-plus exam at ten and a half. What with the disruption in my life, plus a bad case of bronchitis thanks to my parents smoking habits (who knew back then about the effects of cigarette smoke) I failed, and was condemned to a second-class education for the rest of my school life.
I am grateful for so much, yet angry too. You would think that somebody in authority would have looked with sympathy at children like myself and offer constructive help. But no. It is good to think that this would never happen today.
In the meantime, as a young Jewish boy, my future was being determined above my head by our magnificent `Brillcream boys' in their Hurricanes and Sptifires. If I had known then what those vapour trails really meant!
Although I am now a pensioner, I have a ten year old son thanks to my second marriage. How very different he is to me at that age.
He recently completed a project for his school on WW11 and says, I quote:
EVACUATION
The war is coming, coming very near,
You could be anywhere,
But not here!

When I was ten, all I wanted was to be back there!

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