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I was evacuated from Brighton to Ripponden in 1941 at the age 7 and was there until 1944. Contrary to many evacuees experiences I had a marvellous time. My best friend at school was a farmer’s son and I spent most of my waking hours on the farm which was quite an experience for a townie like me. To get back to the ‘prison’. In 1984 I decided to do my forty years on bit and went back to the house where I had stayed and discovered that the present owner had just received the original deeds of the house and they showed that the property had been built specifically as a ‘Prison House’ in 1647. See”RYBURN TAPESTRY” BY Hazel M Whiteley. The war did have its lighter side. One particular instance of the foolhardiness of youth springs to mind. One Saturday morning I was on the local recreation ground on the day of the village fete when I noticed the organisers measuring out where prize was going to be located for the LUCKY dip in a sand pit. Endeavouring to remember where this location was my friend and I went back in the afternoon and duly purchased 2 or 3 lolly sticks or the equivalent. The upshot was that we won the 10 shillings which was the prize and duly split the proceeds and thought no more about it. Unfortunately the results of all the competitions at the fete were printed in the local press including the winners’ names. Having at first denied all knowledge of the affair to the family with whom I was staying I eventually had to confess as the family were going to pursue it with the organisers as to why I had not received my just reward. I duly got my just desserts. Crime does not pay***

John Lumsden

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