大象传媒

This story was edited and submitted by students of George Stephenson High School with the author鈥檚 permission. The author fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

I was 13 when the war started. I lived in Newcastle with my mother, father, two brothers and my two sisters. That was until I was evacuated to Millen in Cumberland.

My father was a very strict man in the army. I was very proud of him for fighting for our country. Later on in life, to follow in my father鈥檚 footsteps, I joined the army, but on the medical side of things. My eldest brother worked in the Navy. Before the evacuation my mother stayed at home to look after her children. Once we had left she stayed in Newcastle making soldier鈥檚 uniforms in a factory.

Before I was evacuated I used to go cycling. Cycling took up most of my spare time as I worked in a Cycle Shop in Percy Street when I was just 14. I used to enjoy cycling to far away places, like Carlisle. In the shop I used to look in the Chronicle newspaper for bikes that were for sale. Once I had found a bike I went to the seller鈥檚 house to buy it then I would sell it on in the shop.

I used to love school even though I wasn鈥檛 very bright! Even getting caned by the teachers didn鈥檛 put me off going. We never used to have to wear a special school uniform. The war didn鈥檛 affect my education until I was evacuated.

I didn鈥檛 go to school when I was evacuated because I worked for the family I stayed with. Me and my brothers and sisters were all fostered to the same family in Millen. I was fortunate because not everybody stayed with their siblings, many people got separated. My foster family was very kind and loving even though they were hard workers. At the weekends I helped the milkman deliver milk to the houses of Millen. During the week I helped the fishermen catch their fish. Working with people in a new environment was a great way to meet new people and friends. In the short period of free time I had I used to play football with the local children. I met many friends when living in Millen.

When I was 14 I returned home but still kept in touch with my foster family. Many times I cycled back to Millen to see them and my friends. Not many children enjoyed their time of evacuation but I was very lucky that I had a loving foster family, great friends and lots of fun.

By Amy Hall, Ashleigh Hope, Zoe Brown, Y9 George Stephenson High School, Killingworth, Newcastle upon Tyne.

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