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I was evacuated but not through the school. I was 11 years old and we were hop-picking in Kent. When the sirends went the Gypsy's covered their caravans in wet blankets in case of gas. One lady had 4 children and put all their gas masks on and this upset me because we hadn't been issued with any before we left London but then the all clear came and my worries were over. My school had been evacuated whilst I was away and my mum was worried. My aunt said my cousin had gone to Mr Gibb in Kent and maybe I could go there as well but the place was full but Mr Gibb said his sister maybe able to help. We went the next Wednesday and Jessie Gibb was the housekeeper to Mr and Mrs Beeney who lived at Hildenboro at Lucy's Farm. They agreed to take me. Mrs Beeney was bedridden and had long black plaits and was very nice but when Mr Beeney arrived he was so big and had huge hands and he scared me. I was accepted and my mum had to pay for my keep she left me there and returned to London. My heart sank but I had to stay. I was sent to Leigh shcool and was the only evacuee there but I loved my teacher Mr Gibbons (I learned more here than at any other school) Stoolball Country Dancing and singing - he loved us to sing. Then the dog fights came. My friend and I cycled to school and many a day we would dive in the ditch to get away from the low flying planes overhead. Lots of planes were shot down and we'd all go to look after school. One German came down near Hildenborough and was taken to the Copper Kettle and given a pint of ale - he was only 17 yrs. The snows came and we moved and I had to change schools because it was too far to cycle each day, but the new school had so many evacuees we had to share school half a day at school and half a day paper chasing for the war effort. Mr and Mrs Beeney then lived at Hale Oak in the Weald and we had Land Girls billeted with us and I got to really like the girls but then I turned 14 and had to return to London.They were upset to see me go but I was so homesick by then. I married in 1945 and had a daughter in 1949 but still kept in touch with Mr and Mrs Beeney and regularly visited them in Kent they became our second family and we continued to be close until they both died. Mr Beeney, after his second wife, Jess, died came to visit us in Norfolk and he loved it here. I must say my evacuee days were very good and they were very kind to me and I miss them very much. Harried Cox - originally from London now living in Norfolk (single name Harriet Burchell but known as Nellie)

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