Hello everyone, Just looked into this site and although the stories go back through the latter years I thought I might add my story , better late than never, here goes:-
Like all evacuees we were told that we had to go away because the nasty Germans might be coming, my age at that time was 11 so with our little parcels and our labels tied to our coats off we went, my sister who was two and half years older and I set off from Camden Street Schoo out lvia New Spring Street Entrance up the street we went in orderly file with several teachers ushering us along, turning right along Clissold Street and up to Pitsford Street Railway goods Yard walked across the yard and onto a train, everyone all excited (Except the Teachers) at this adventure we were going on, on board we went, after a while the train set off, no one knew were we going but the excitement was tremendous.
A few hours later we stopped at a place called Monmouth outside the station children were herded onto a single decker bus that was there and the majority got on and off they went, my sister and I were ushered into a car and off we went. on and on, it seemed to be forever then we came to a little village through the village we went and turned right into another road, just a little way down this road we turned into some large gates, by this time it was getting dusk and into a hall we went, lots of people were there and taking children out with them about half a dozen were left including my sister and I, a couple of ladies took hold of our hands and walked us out and down the path that we had just driven up, walked down the road and came to a couple of cottages, the lady knocked on the door and a woman came I heard the lady ask if she would take one of us evacuees in, after some deliberation she said she would take one only and picked me, I refused to go in without my sister, they coaxed me saying that my sister would be just down the road.
When I got inside and exchanged name the lady asked if I would like something to eat, Would I? I was starving, would you like some fish and chips? the obvious answer was a resounding YES would you like some pop again a great nodding of head, which type of course I said every lads favourite Dandelion and Burdoch, the lady came back a little later on with this mouth watering smell of Fish and Chips, I gorged and drank until my little belly was as full as can be.
Off to bed in my own little room, delight upon delight, till I found that the toilet was down the bottom of the garden, no lights and a wooden hut. Oh dear!! during the night, following my feast and drink also the excitement of all this to-ing and fro-ing my bladder forgot to wake me up during the night and I had a very wet bed next morning.
Next morning, Reece and Flo were very kind about the problem, Reece asked me if I would like to go to work with him to which I said yes, we walked through the village back from where we had walked last night meeting my sister on the way, after a while he took me up a hill and halfway up we stopped and said "That's where I work" my eyes popped out of my head, right at the top of that hill reared a very large 'Castle' Raglan Castle and that was also the name of the village 'Raglan'. My adventures then began. If this story is enjoyed and would like to hear more, post a reply.
Brookieboy