Swimbridge, The Mill c.1950

Photo ref: S241009

I am with my Dad, peter Brandon, who was also evacuated to the area during the war with his 2 brothers and sister and parents. They were in a terrace of cottages, Dinnaton Cottages south od Swimbridge. he went to Swimbridge school, probably aged 7 in 1940? His broithers were Syd and Jack, and his sister was Wyn. His dad worked in the tannery.

We were evacuated to North Molton during the Second World War, I remember going to the school and being billeted in various homes, one on the hill near a baker's shop - what lovely smells. I also remember the Lysander plane that crashed into the church, and the bullets exploding. I remember going picking blueberries on Exmoor for people from London and getting paid, and wild strawberries near a railway station, ...see more

My dad was from the area and my brother was brought up in the village by my gran. I remember playing in the shallows of the river by the bridge on a hot sunny summers day. I have lost touch with my brother and would love to find him.