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I was born in 1938 in Twickenham. When I was about 5 years old, it was decided to evacuate me. I suffered very badly from asthma, so I was sent to a convalescent home on the Isle of Wight. I was told I was going on holiday. The home was a convent, called St Catherine’s, I think just outside Ventnor. I was there for about 18 months, and was very unhappy. I remember very little, but am sure corporal punishment was used for bed wetting and other misdemeanours. I think I remember my Dad coming to tell me I was coming home. When I returned home, I had changed from a bonny looking child to a bundle of skin and bone. I had no memory of any life before - my memory really starts at the age of 7 years old. I wonder if anyone else has memories of this ‘home’.

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