We didn't really have to take any evacuees...

We didn’t really have to take in any evacuees because my Gran was rather poorly, my Mum was nursing her, and there was just Dad and myself at home. Anyway, we heard them calling with the megaphone “Will residents please come forward, the evacuees are here”; (this was up Innage Crescent) so we went along to Innage Crescent and they were sending out the evacuees, and they had two left. Dad looked at me and said “We’ll take them, yes”. I sighed and thought “nevermind”.

It was a brother and a sister. Vincent- The boy, was the elder, and Sheila - the girl was the younger one. They were lovely children. Very, very poor, but very, very clean, and very well-mannered. They came home and we’d got one spare room, which Vincent took. Sheila slept in my bed. We were all settled and then the next day we had lots of chats with them. Sheila and I used to do a lot of sewing. I made Sheila clothes out of mine. We enjoyed life with them.

The first meal that we had together, we put on the table. We had vegetables including runner beans. Vincent just looked at it and said “Well, I don’t usually eat grass….” As soon as he realised, he ate them and enjoyed them.

Vincent lived in the river! He was always in there. My Dad said to him “You must not go down to the river Vincent! You’ll drown! It’s a very treacherous water” “No Mr Higgins, I won’t go anywhere near the river” Vincent replied. I was working at the Cliff Railway at that time and I could see all that was going on. On the diving board was Vincent, turning somersaults in to the water. He’d get home later and my Dad would say “You haven’t been in the river have you?” “No Mr Higgins”, he’d fib. I’d just look at him and whisper “I saw all of those moves and high dives you made. I only wish I could dive like that!” He came to no harm though.

Then their Dad came home from the War, he’d been in the Navy. They really felt they should have their children back so away they went. They weren’t with us very long, but long enough to get used to them and enjoy them.

A few years after the war I went on an excursion with my boyfriend to New Brighton; well not actually New Brighton but Liverpool. I told him “I want to go and find our evacuees”. George said “What a hope!” Anyway, we went to Kirkdale over in Liverpool, and we were walking along the street when I touched him. I said “Sheila!” George said “Get out! Don’t be silly, never”. I walked over to the lady and asked her if she used to be Sheila McCormick. She said “Yes I did… Joan? She took me home, and then Vincent came over as well and we had quite a reunion — it was wonderful. Soon after that I lost all contact with them. A few years ago I tried to trace them — which was quite a job! Eventually I managed to get hold of them and I’m still in touch with Sheila now.

You can read more of this in the book ‘Wartime Memories' by Christopher Magner.

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Becky Barugh of the BBC Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Joan Higgins and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Joan's stories:

• I was the first female postie in the war years in Bridgnorth
• ’The Cheapest Holiday We Could Find’
• ’We forgot about you!’
• My chance was gone

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