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I was evacuated to Winsford on the 2nd September 1939 from Westminster Road School, Kirkdale, along with my sister Joyce; I was eight and she was eleven. Although we wanted to stay together, we were split up and lived two doors away from each other. My sister was treated like a daughter and loved being there whilst I suffered mentally from day one. I was left outdoors in all weathers, all my foster mother wanted was the allowance the government gave. After twelve months this woman took me home by train — what a wonderful day that was for me! My mother brought Joyce home as she didn’t want us to be separated. I always vowed that when I grew up I would go back to Winsford and tell this woman of my disgust at her treatment of a young child.

The years went by and in 1989 a letter appeared in the Liverpool Echo asking people who had attended Westminster Road School and were evacuated to Winsford to write to the headmaster of Wharton Road School. Apparently the children of that school were doing a thesis about the second world war and the headmaster had discovered that Liverpool children had attended the school.

I went to Winsford on the 15th December, along with seventeen other ladies. We had a lovely lunch with the children of the school, then we sat in the classrooms and answered the children’s questions about the war. We were then given an hour to relive our memories. This was my opportunity. I went to the house, knocked on the door and there she was. She told me that I was happy there. I told her I fretted from day one and was very grateful the day she took me home.

I see my fellow evacuees about four times a year when we have lunch at the Adelphi. Sadly the original seventeen have now dwindled to nine, with me being the baby at 74. My memories of wartime Liverpool are still very vivid.

This story was submitted to the People's War site by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Merseyside's People's War team on behalf of the author and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's term and conditions.

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