The story of a Birmingham wartime evacuee
Sep 19 2009 By Carl Chinn
Into the hall walked an elderly couple later known to us later as Mr and Mrs Davis and Harry Spalding and I were taken back to their homely cottage in Droitwich Road, with a rear garden and chickens. Our first meal was soon prepared and eaten followed by a quick wash before bed. The wooden floors in the bedroom creaked with every step taken, and the latched door proved a real novelty. Sleep did not come easily despite tiredness, sharing a double bed with another lad as an only child was comforting and strange.
We all attended the local village school, in Feckenham and the headmaster was Mr Tuft, and his wife was also a teacher at the school. It was not long before Mr Tuft, a young man, joined the Royal Air Force. I can remember sitting in the classroom one morning and we waited for Mrs Tuft to enter the classroom to teach us. Instead another teacher entered to tell us Mrs Tuft had received a telegram, stating Mr Tuft had been killed. In recent years reading the school records I discovered on his last day of air crew training in America Mr Tuft had walked into a turning aircraft propeller. Mr and Mrs Davis were a really kind couple. They fed, cared and supported us, but we were more than they could cope with, and Harry and I after Christmas 1939 moved to 41 High Street, to the large home of Mr and Mrs Spencer. They had twin boys aged eight years-old, Graham and Kingsley, and a sister 18 years-old.
Also, our teacher from our school Miss Barker, with two other evacuees, Philip and Roy Bates, were billeted with the Spencer family. The housekeeper Mrs Hawkes came in every day to look after us. She was a kind and understanding lady.
It was a house with a large garden and field with one cow which we milked. We all had jobs to do including patting up the butter and wrapping it ready for sale. We also fed chickens, cleaned shoes, and washed up – all on a rota basis never resented because Graham and Kingsley were also expected to carry out these tasks.
All the children ate in the kitchen Mrs Hawkes fed us and bathed us and when we had bugs in our hair it was Mrs Hawkes who had the job of washing them out. Mr and Mrs Kingsley dined on their own in a separate part of the house out of bounds for the evacuees. Graham and Kingsley only ate with their parents on Sunday, and we all attended church on Sunday.
Every six to eight weeks Mom would visit bringing sweets, cakes and a little pocket money. The visits passed by quickly ending in sadness and tears. During one visit Mom brought me Dad’s watch recently repaired. I was thrilled to be wearing it on my wrist. During Mom’s visit I kept checking the time. I felt very proud.
Later in the afternoon it was time for Mom to walk back to Astwood Bank to wait for the bus back to Birmingham. On this occasion I walked half way with her before returning on my own. Almost back in the village I realised the watch and strap were no longer on my wrist, I retraced my steps and searched until dark but couldn’t find the watch. This remains a painful experience that has stayed in my memory for nearly 70 years. I returned home in February 1941.
Eleven years ago the Witton Reunion group was formed and close childhood ties were rekindled with children from Station Road Board School and evacuees to Feckenham and we returned to the village on Saturday, September 5, to commemorate 70 years since our life changing evacuation during the Second World War.“
n If anyone wants more information they can ring Barry on 0121 308 3115.
