大象传媒

During 1944 my brother Michael was five, me Marie six. We lived in a huge buildings, Webber Row, London about a mile from Waterloo Station. One morning mum took us and put us on a double decker bus packed with children. We were unaware of the long journey ahead of us, out destination St Ives, Cornwall.

Mum waved us off calling "hold hands, keep together". I was scared. We climbed the stairs to the top deck, I was crying, Michael said to me "don't cry Warie" (don't cry Marie).

After the short bus ride to Waterloo Station we were led onto the platform and the waiting train. We were small and could not see much, only aware of the mass around us. With everyone safely onboard the train moved slowly from the station. There were workmen on the lines all cheering and smiling as they waved us on our way, with the benefit of hindsight there smiles must have quickly turned to tears as they watched the train packed with London's children leaving the Capital.

My next recollection was being in a big room. We were given to a lady called Mrs Buttons, she took us home. When she put us to bed she locked our door, although I was six I still wet the bed and woke in the morning having done so. Mrs Buttons took us back to the big room, a lady from there took us to quite a posh place for a snack, the waitress in a dark dress, little pinny and cap served us. The lady must have told her what had happened, the waitress became our Auntie Bessie, and I clearly remember her actions. She took her pinny and cap off, put them on the table, spoke to a man then with Michael holding one hand, me in the other took us home.

Home was a lovely bungalow high above the bay of St Ives, I did not appreciate its location until 20 years ago I went back to see it, I could now see over its surrounding hedge right across the bay the bungalow was called "Windy Park". Uncle Fred her husband, son Laurie, daughter Lorna welcomed us.

The memory of the scrivener families kindness has remained with me, I don't think we could have been with them many months as we did not leave London until the bombing was at its height and we were back in Trafalgar Square with Mum and Dad for the V.E. celebrations.

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