Evacue 1942

A Memory of Bishopswood.

My family lived in Fishponds, Bristol, during the severe bombing of the town in 1941/42. It was decided by the government that all children should be evacuated to the country, families were to say who was or was not to go - my mother said three of 5 should go. Gordon, 6yr, me, Tony 8yr and my sister Doreen 10yr. After two days she cried so much, mum had to come and take her home.

My brother and I was billeted at Woodend Farm with a lovely lady and her husband and his brother by the name of Satturley. The daughter was married and lived in Tiverton and the son was serving in the REME as a mechanic. The farm was quite big and behind the barn, that is now for sale, was an orchard of 3 acres and at the top end, a stone wall where a track led down to a 2 acre field. At the bottom was an old lime kiln with a secret hole in the wall that you could put your hand in and with a stream running by - we used to catch Trout by laying down and tickling their belly then flipping then onto the bank. What great times we had. We walked to Buckland St Marys for a dance, straight up from the farm, some walk home in the dark back across the fields - 3 miles.

In early 1943 my brother went home and I stayed as I loved the farm and all the work and it was doing me good. As a young boy I was not strong nor healthy, and mother got a lot of things that were on ration at the time, so I did not go home until late 1946 by which time I had grown into a big 5ft 10in 12 stone lad with no ailments and strong as all hell.

Behind the cow shed was a massive barn - 10 Bay - where we stored all the hay. That led into a 3 acre field and into a 5 acre field that led to the 2 acre field with the stream running through it, into the largest field - 6 acre, which led up to the orchard. There was also a 3 acre field across from the village store where root crops were grown.

The village people took all the kids to heart. We were from all over and a right lot. Londoners, Brummys Bristolians you name it we were there. The Village hall was turned into a school and the two lady teachers were from London. The village shop was beside the garage that was taken over by Cliff Satterly on his demob. At the entrance to the village, off to the right, on a side track, was the old Bakery. The baker's wife was our lady's sister, whose name was Sumption. They owned the bakery and had a daughter and lived behind the village hall - the church was just beyond the hall on the right.

I jioned the Army in 1949 and in 1950 was in Korea war as a regular Soldier. I am now 85 yrs and lived in Queensland, Australia for the last 35 yrs. I hope this gives you a little insight to what life was like on a lovely old farm. Back then we used to shake the Hazel nut bushes and shovel up all the nuts for Xmas time. In the old barn that is for sale, we used to press all the old apples to make cider. What a drop juice that was! I have seen strong men as drunk as a skunk on the stuff.

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