Miss Marjorie Spencer writes:

“I was evacuated from Hull to Bourne in Lincolnshire on 21st May 1941 when the blitz was at its height and was lucky enough to be placed with Mr & Mrs Smith and their 3 year old son John. They had a high class grocery store in the town which had been established in 1857 and they lived in Mill Drove which was then a country lane on the edge of Bourne. I was treated as one of the family and as my mother died two years later, leaving me orphaned, remained so. I lived with my foster parents in the same house in Mill Drove for 61 years. Mr Smith died sixteen years ago. Mrs Smith had a fall in 2002 and had to go into Residential Home as I suffer from arthritis and was unable to give her the care she required. I was fortunate enough to move to a small bungalow. Mrs Smith died in 2006 at the age of 100years and one month. The toddler John grew up to run the family business and he and his wife are well known figures in Bourne and are now grandparents. His son did not want to go into the grocery business and the old shop is now a popular public house known as ‘Smiths of Bourne’. I have enclosed a photo of fellow evacuees in my form at Bourne Council School in the early 1940s. We were all evacuated from Escourt Street School, which was bombed out of existence. I wonder if any of the girls in the photo are still around. I am now 80 and would love to hear from any of them.

February 2008

K Cooke nee Tozer writes: “Thank you for printing my appeal for anyone evacuated from my area. A gentleman replied who had been evacuated from the area that I lived and was billeted quite near to me in Wiltshire. Could I request another appeal for Ernest Knight and his brother Billy who were evacuated from Plaistow E13. I’m sure we all went together, they may have been billeted with my brother Frank Tozer at Wooton Bassett.

February2008

H.G. Farmer writes from California – I have often wondered if any of my school mates read the evacuee magazine as I do. I would like to hear from any one of them. I was evacuated from Birmingham to Tewkesbury as a Victoria Street School of Arts student. We shared spaces in a grammar school, an old Victorian building opposite the Abbey. I was given the nickname of Oscar.

February2008

Sid Brown writes –

Could I ask for any members who attended the following Norht London School which were evacuated to get in touch: Tottenham County; Tottenham High; Tottenham Grammar; Latymers (Edmonton); Glewdalt (Wood Grove); St Ignatious (Tottenham); Tollington (Wood Grove); Risley Avenue Central; Downhills Central; Down Lane Central; And any others not listed.

February2008

Edna Taylor writes –

It is so nostalgic reading The Evacuee magazine every month. I am wondering whether there are any other evacuees ‘out there’ who were either evacuated to Arlesey, Bedfordshire and attended Northwold Road School, Clapton, London

February2008

Evelyn Cathie nee Seymour writes –

I wonder if anyone who attends the Essex and East London Group meetings was evacuated to a small village called Shalbourne near Hungerford. Fifty of us went there from a R.C. School in Custom House.

February2008

Ron Waller writes –

I was first evacuated from the Medway Cottage Homes along with everyone else to Whitstable in Kent. Then when my father died I went back home to live with my mother in Sipcup Kent. Not long after my mother had to give up our house and we moved to a flat either in Deptford or Brixton. Only a few days later I was evacuated to Brixham in Devon. Had two or more happy years there before being evacuated to Brentwood in Essex to be near my mother who was very ill with tuberculosis. I would very much like to hear from anyone who was at any of the above venues, especially any of the Huxford family, Doreen, Shirley, Maisie, and Ricky. Their mother’s name was Nelly. I have been in touch with Sylvia, my foster-parents daughter, she used to write to Doreen who used to live in Kingston-upon-Thames in Surrey, but lost her address.

February2008

Bernard Harris sent an email: This is on behalf of my cousin, David Cook, formally of Soham, Cambs. During the war he played with two boys evacuated (probably from London, one called Leslie). He would like to get in touch, if possible. I have a photo of the three of them, which I would be happy to email to anyone who might be able to help. Many thanks for all help or information.

February2008

Mrs D Leadley wonders whether there is any chance of help in finding the Residential Nursery to which I was evacuated in 1942. I live in Bethnal Green in East London and went to the nursery when I was about three and a half years old. My mother refused to talk about it because my sister died just after she came home at the age of five in 1945. All I know is that it was in Kant and probably near an airfield as I remember a plane flying very low over us. We were told to wave t the pilot, but I knew planes meant bombs and this had a very unfortunate effect on four year old bowels! The grounds had grass covered stepped terraces which we used to roll down. I came home for a while when I was nearly five and was then sent to Sheffield, where I was badly treated. My sister stayed at the Nursery until she was five and then came home in 1945. Sadly she died a few months later. My name was then Doreen Wood and my sister was Joyce. I realise that it is a forlorn hope that anyone would be able to help with this such little detail but I thought it worth a try. Editors note: The Kent Record Office may have details of war time nurseries.

February2008

Murial Drakefor nee Carter of Cadillac Drive #21 Sacrament, California 95825 writes:

“I’d like to know if anyone remembers being evacuated from Runcorn, Cheshire to Blackpool. Haven’t heard or seen any mention of it. Please get in touch.

February2008

Eddie Alexander won a scholarship to Erith County Grammar School for Boys in 1946. One of the other boys in my year was Don Fish. There were several of us who had been evacuees. Perhaps the school has a web site of old pupils and where they are today. The school shared accommodation with the Technical School and came under the Kent Education Authority (Probably now part of Greater London). Erith itself is on the River Thames downstream from Woolwich (of Barrier fame). I have nothing more on Don Fish after we parted ways at the age of 16.

February2008

Mrs Anne Chappel writes:

“During the early part of the war my parents gave their house for use by evacuees, as the war progressed and the worst of the blitz was over I think most returned to London. My late Mother remained in touch for many years with one particular family (I think Segal). I am following up my family history and would welcome any memories from any of your members who might have stayed in my parents’ house. Their names were: Major Andrew Wingfield & Mrs Elizabeth Wingfield. Cow Hall Denver, Near Downham Market, Norfolk. It’s a bit of a long shot, but thanks for your help. Editor’s note. Any responses should be sent to the ERA office for forwarding not to Crow Hall.

February2008

Sandra Loveday writes –

My Mother Alice Holland was evacuated from Walworth to Exmouth with my two elder sisters, Kathleen and Rose, they were sent on to Yorkshire some time later, where my sister Patricia was born in 1941. I was born in 1945. Does anyone remember them?

February2008

Mrs G Weston nee McDonnell was evacuated to Windlesham in Surrey from St Mary’s C of E School Hendon, NW4. She would love to hear from anyone else who was evacuated from Hendon .

February2008

Mr Harold Taylor writes –

I was evacuated to Castle Carey in Somerset with other children from Southampton and a few from East Ham, London. I would very much like to hear from any other evacuees who were there in that area, or any local people who would like to get in touch.

February2008