大象传媒

A HAPPY EVACUEE (September 1st 1939)

Evelyn May (nee Roberts)

Firstly, I must explain that we evacuees were brought up in a different age - Victorian style -
we just followed blindly what told to do - did not question, no discussion. We didn't know
where we were going - neither did our parents, as I remember.

It proved to be the pleasant village of Willaston on the Wirral. To me it was an adventure.

I had read many stories of life in boarding school and thought this was how it would be.
I had just passed my entrance exam into my new school so really didn't know my fellow
evacuees - this didn't faze me. I soon made a very good friend from amongst them. She
is still, 64 years later, one of my closest friends.

She and I adapted to our new life better, I think, than anyone from our group. We learned
to adore the natural country life - a love which has very much stayed with us and in my case,
has certainly been passed on to my children and grandchildren. Ruth and I integrated with
some of the village children and were as happy as the day was long. These boys and girls
were so kind and welcoming to us - I have long marvelled at their generosity of spirit.
They taught us so much about the activities of country children.

I was never homesick - I loved my parents of course but they were awfully strict!! My foster
parents - 2 single, charming, kind and intelligent ladies loved me and I them. They, too, taught me many things.

School - We integrated with the village children for a few weeks but then the evacuees
moved into the village hall with the few teachers who had accompanied us from our home town.

My father took me home after 8 months, which made me very sad for a while. 12 months
later I was again evacuated, this time to Wilmslow. Again, I had an excellent billet and
settled very quickly to my new life. I soon made friends, this was easy. As you can imagine,
there was a real feeling of comradeship amongst the evacuees. Once again, my father
collected me after a few short months, much to my dismay.

Unfortunately, these comings and goings had a very disruptive affect on the continuity of our
education. When I returned to my home-school there were only 9 pupils in my class! We
had to double up with other age-group forms which was pretty chaotic. I have always
regretted the gaps in my education at this stage, as others must do. However, perhaps our
experiences developed our characters in some ways: adaptability, self-reliance and sociability.

I still smile at my happy memories!