大象传媒

On June 21st 1940, following the fall of France to the Germans and the evacuation of the British Army at Dunkirk, the school children of Guernsey were evacuated to England for safety. My own family was split with John and Francis going with the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Denis and Therese going with La Chaumiere School. My mother, older sister Margaret, brother Richard (Dick) who was three years old at the time and I were evacuated two days later under the heading of mothers with babies and/or teenage daughters.

The school children were first sent to Eccles and were there for approximately two weeks having been housed in church halls about half a mile away from each other.

My mother and I were sent to Glasgow - non-stop from Weymouth and likewise housed in a church hall.

After the initial two weeks, Les Vauxbelets School was sent to Hale in Cheshire with the Brothers in charge. Brother Clarence was responsible for his school.

La Chaumiere School was sent to Knutsford in Cheshire. Father Patrick Bleach, S.D.B. was in charge of the group and there were three teaching Sisters - Mother Emmanuel, Sister Adolph and Sister Elzear. The children were billeted with families who were required to take children if they had a room to put them in. This arrangement was not proving to be very satisfactory as the Sisters were not happy with some of the care being given in some cases.

Father Bleach decided to seek alternative accommodation to house the children as one large group. Having toured the vicinity and making enquiries, he found that Moseley Hall was not being used regularly by its owner as he owned another house in Manchester near his cotton mills and another smaller house in Wales. Mr. Stoddard, the owner of Moseley Hall, was approached by Father Bleach about the possibility of using it for the children. They both realised that it would not be allowed to remain empty for the duration of the war but could even be occupied by the Armed Forces. Mr. Stoddard gladly agreed to Father Bleach's request and told him that they could have the house rent free for the whole time they needed it.

In the meantime, my mother, Mrs. Gladys Merrien had written to the Sisters asking them whether they could find out if we could find accommodation and work if we came to Knutsford so that the family could be as close as possible together. My father was trapped in German occupied Guernsey. The Sisters replied that Father Bleach had said that if my mother would be prepared to cook for everyone and that I would help with the children, that we would be very welcome to join them when they moved into Moseley Hall. He couldn't offer us a salary as money was going to be very short. He did, however, offer us a home which we were to consider as ours for the duration of the war. We were all to live as one family with no question of staff or employers. This attitude was certainly the way that my mother and I were treated throughout. We did not know such things as days off or time sheets but shared life all together. When funds allowed we had some pocket money but never a salary as such.
The school moved into Moseley Hall after approximately three months in Knutsford and were settled well by Christmas. Father Pat spent days tracking down beds, linen, toys and equipment by going begging to factories, local authorities, shops, warehouses, etc. He was tireless in his efforts to get us well clothed and equipped in every way. He was deeply loved by all the children. Every night before bedtime when he joined the children for prayers, he would then tell them a short story in Don Bosco tradition which he called "Ie petit mot". This was eagerly awaited each evening - he appeared to have an unlimited supply of stories.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.