大象传媒

Beryl Sebire (n茅e Saich) interviewed by Matt Harvey, Social History Officer, Guernsey Museum. The interview recorded on video. The video transcribed by J David 5-8/9/2005

[Beryl Saich was an evacuee from Guernsey, living with relatives in Southall. Her parents had remained in Guernsey]

Now what happened to me after that/
I鈥︹�︹��.. Did you have any brothers or sisters?
Beryl Sebire. no, no brothers no sisters, that was awful. Lots of people had brothers or sisters but I had no-one, absolutely no-one. I had two or three aunts, only one of those had any children, that was a twin, the others didn鈥檛 have any children, oh it was awful, it was a lonely life for me.
I鈥︹�︹��.. When you left on the evacuation boat, were you travelling with other friends, from school?
Beryl Sebire. No, just the one school, it was called the Intermediate then, just the one school.
I鈥︹�︹��.. When you got to England, were you able to keep in touch with your other friends or did you all go to different places?
Beryl Sebire. No, we all went to different places. Us lot, the seniors, went to Rochdale, I was only there for two days, and my two friends I had at school, there were three of us, the famous trio, we used to go around, unfortunately they stayed in Guernsey, their parents wouldn鈥檛 let them go. I had others, but I mean I was parted from those as well. But I had no brothers, no sisters; I don鈥檛 know what I did. But my aunt was very good, but it鈥檚 not the same as having a friend of my own age. I went down to Uxbridge after a while, to the Bell-Punch, and at the Bell-Punch there was a chap down there, and he asked me if I would like to go to the pictures one day, I had never been out with a boy in my life, and I didn鈥檛 know if I would be allowed to go, so I asked my aunt - 鈥淲ho with?鈥� I said 鈥淭here鈥檚 a boy鈥︹�� 鈥淚 know鈥�, 鈥淲ell he鈥檚 asked me to go to the pictures with him鈥�,鈥滵o you want to go?鈥� I said 鈥淚 don鈥檛 really mind either way鈥�. So I went, 鈥淲e could hear some chatting in the background, he looked round 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 your aunt and uncle, sitting right behind us鈥� [laughter]. Do that with the children today! But I suppose they felt responsible for me, and I can understand, they were cautious, and they were waiting outside 鈥淏etter go home, Cheerio, see you tomorrow at work鈥� One night stand 鈥� or one day stand...

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