Evacuee

My two sisters, Dorrie and Clara and my brother Michael and I were woken early, Sunday July 7th 1940, at our home in Hull. We were told we were going on an outing with school and had to be there by 6.00am. After tea with bread and jam we boarded a coach in the playground and set off for Hessle Railway Station. We got on a train to 'destination unknown'. We each carried a small suitcase containing 2 new vests, a liberty bodice, socks, underwear and sleeping attire. We also had a gas mask and a luggage label was tied to our coats. We left the train and were met by 2 boy scouts who handed everyone a carrier bag containing a tin of corned beef, a packet of crackers, a tin of milk and a Kit Kat bar. We boarded another coach and headed out into the country, we had by this time decided we were going on a picnic. We went through lovely villages, passing green fields, which many of us had never seen before. The coach stopped at East Cowick and we were taken into the local school. It was explained to us that we were 'evacuees' who would be staying with kind people who had offered us safe homes away from the bombing. The Billeting Officer took us to seperate homes and I stayed with Mr. and Mrs. Horncastle and family at West Cowick. They welcomed me warmly and Mrs. Horncastle showed me to my 'own bedroom', something which I had never had, so I was very excited. I then had a cup of tea, home made bread, blackcurrant jam and real butter. After tea I was allowed to visit my sisters and brother to see were they were living. Percy Horncastle, one of the sons, came with me through the village, to make sure I didn't get lost. I remember thinking "what a beautiful place to get lost in", and I still think that, after all these years.

Our school, at first, was The Institute, down Little London Lane. Because we were Catholics, we had a seperate place for learning, but after a while we mixed in with the Snaith children, with different teachers for religion. I recall vividly the names of our two teachers, Miss Donnelly (no relation to me) and Miss Gardiner.

One Easter I remember going to Church and after Mass and Confession the Priest told my friend and I to go to the Presbytery for tea and hot-cross buns. Unfortunately they had catered for 40 and only the two of us had turned up. I promptly told my friend it would be a sin to waste what the Good Lord had provided, so she drank the tea and I ate the buns. Needless to say, my friend needed the toilet all the way home and I did not want any breakfast.

I was 10 years old when I first went to West cowick and left with a great deal of sadness at age 14 years. I have always maintained the Horncastles were my second family and have never lost touch.

A proud moment for me was the 50years celebration when Snaith and Cowick Town Council presented me with a beautiful basket of flowers. Although I was young, happy times came out of a bad situation.

Patsy Altree (Nee Donnelly) 13.07.1997

(19/11/28 to 6/12/2002 R.I.P.)

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