Evacuee

A Memory of Souldern.

Aged 9, evacuated to Souldern, on leaving the train I was taken to the village hall where we were all told to sit down and await to be collected, over a period of time I was selected and taken to the Hermitage, the lady of the house being Mrs Slessor. To my young mind it was like going into a palace, being waited on and even a cook and gardener, the happiest time of my life. I also remember the post office, the Fox Inn, the well at the top of the village and the women getting the water from it and going back to the cottages. My one sister lived at the post office and my other two sisters were living in the cottage, I believe the lady's name was Mrs Westbury.
The lady at the post office was I believe was Mrs Bates who had a daughter.