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St Paul's service marks 70th anniversary
Terry Kirby1 Sep 2009
For some, the 1939 evacuation of children from London at the onset of the Second World War was almost an extended holiday, a chance to enjoy country life while their families endured the horrors of the Blitz.
For others, it was a time of loneliness and bullying by rural school fellows.
A crowd of more than 2,000 gathered at St Paul's Cathedral today for a service to mark the 70th anniversary of the first evacuations.
Among those at St Paul's was Gordon Abbott, 76, who at seven, was sent from Battersea to Cornwall to live on a farm with a childless couple.
He said: "I was one of the lucky ones. The couple treated me as their son and I was accepted into their extended family."
James Rossey, who was evacuated from Camberwell to West Sussex, was among those who saw it as a holiday. "I was quite excited and saw it as a great adventure," he said.
Among the celebrity evacuees was the broadcaster Michael Aspel, 76, who was sent from Wandsworth to Chard, Somerset, where the local children were less than welcoming.
He said: "There was a tremendous punch-up - but we all fought back of course."
Reader views (1)
I was privileged to be able to attend this service, what a truly memorable day, one that i will hold dear in my mind as an important highlight into the supreme sacrifices that were made by these 'remarkable veterans' mostly quiet and unassuming in there manner, and as most of them would tell you 'it was war and we did what we had to do to protect our country for our children' I felt humbled by the individual stories of bravery and the suffering that they endured in the name of duty to country and her people . As the dean said in his opening speech we owe All of you a great debt and this tribute is to honour you and all those who died or are still suffering for the freedoms we have today. I had to swallow deeply as i watched these remarkable men and women take their place in the long columns of those who would march to the guildhall, some in wheelchairs many many on sticks , others who obviously had difficulty seeing and hearing yet their they were on this parade ground which would for many of them would be their last march, and still in defiance of their advancing years taking their place among the young RAF members as if to say 'follow me son I will show you how its done' I was so moved by the whole experience and if I ever needed proof that the spirit of Britain still lives I saw it here today.
- Molly Bennett, SOUTHAMPTON HAMPSHIRE, 08/09/2010 22:29
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