THE WAR YEARS - EVACUATION TO RETFORD (Taken from News Letter no. 4 April 2003)
Recollections of these years have been contributed by Stella Kerry and Margaret Stone
In the summer of 1940 it was announced on the radio that school children from East Coast towns were to be evacuated. Families were given just one week to make preparations to leave. Margaret remembers having her hair cut short in case of head lice! On June 2nd the school set off. Retford County High School was their destination. The younger girls were excited but those in the Vth form were anxious about taking their School Certificate exams in strange surroundings. To keep up morale on the long train journey Miss Copeman distributed glucose sweets.
Girls were billeted with families, many of whom were quite unused to teenage girls! Stella's first billet was with an elderly lady who employed a maid, complete with white cap and apron. Later she found a happier placement. There was little chance to mix with the Retford girls as a scheme of 'split days' was initiated. Yarmouth girls used the buildings from 8.15-11.00am and 3.00-5.00pm. During the middle hours of the day the girls played games,had singing lessons with Dr. Hunt, gardened or went potato picking for the local farmer.Margaret remembers that they earned a little money in the summer holidays, working on the Harvest, which enabled them to go to the cinema at the weekend.
The staff forfeited their holidays and stayed in Retford, organising outings to local places of interest and theatres. Dancing classes, competitions and picnics were the order of the day. What dedication to one's profession!
In 1942 'Glenesk House' was purchased. The Yarmouth girls now had their own building so normal school hours were resumed. Miss Kerr took over as Headmistress and when the girls returned home in 1944, the governors of the school sent a cheque to Retford High School to establish a Great Yarmouth School Prize.
Girls were billeted with families, many of whom were quite unused to teenage girls! Stella's first billet was with an elderly lady who employed a maid, complete with white cap and apron. Later she found a happier placement. There was little chance to mix with the Retford girls as a scheme of 'split days' was initiated. Yarmouth girls used the buildings from 8.15-11.00am and 3.00-5.00pm. During the middle hours of the day the girls played games,had singing lessons with Dr. Hunt, gardened or went potato picking for the local farmer.Margaret remembers that they earned a little money in the summer holidays, working on the Harvest, which enabled them to go to the cinema at the weekend.
The staff forfeited their holidays and stayed in Retford, organising outings to local places of interest and theatres. Dancing classes, competitions and picnics were the order of the day. What dedication to one's profession!
In 1942 'Glenesk House' was purchased. The Yarmouth girls now had their own building so normal school hours were resumed. Miss Kerr took over as Headmistress and when the girls returned home in 1944, the governors of the school sent a cheque to Retford High School to establish a Great Yarmouth School Prize.
School Magazine 1942. Due to shortage of paper during the war it was impossible to issue the Magazine in its usual form.
We are lucky to have an original copy and this one which is copy of the original signed by the teachers. At Least I think it is as Margaret Copeman was the Headmistress and Miss Adams has signed it as well. perhaps someone can confirm?
This is a summary taken from the original Magazine:
July 1942
The Headmistress Miss M.S.Copeman. Two years of evacuation have just been completed, and looking back on all that that has happened since we left Yarmouth on that fateful Sunday in June 1940, I think we have every reason to be very thankful.
The school has been in safety and undisturbed by "crash" warnings and such like
The work of the School has been satisfactory and has suffered very little on the whole from the effects of the evacuation. The examination results were good, the number of Higher School Certificate successes the largest in our records.
To say good-bye when the School is still in "exile" is especially difficult for all who leave this term, whether Headmistress, staff or girls, but we look forward to a reunion some day in the dear old School or (who knows?) in a palatial edifice perhaps on or Playing Field!
Till then I must say good-bye or rather "God bless you all." May you all soon be restored in peace and safety to your homes in Yarmouth, and may any difficulties you have experienced during the war have so strengthened your character that in the future you may be able to take a real part in the establishing of the "new order" in the world, which can only succeed if founded on righteousness, peace and justice.
With love to you all from
Your very affectionate Head Mistress
M.S.Copeman.
Miss Copeman retired and Miss E.Kerr was appointed as Head Mistress.
Miss H.Dawson retired.
Called to Higher Service:
Pat Almond
Betty Guest
Brenda Holmes
Barbara Rumbold.
July 1942
The Headmistress Miss M.S.Copeman. Two years of evacuation have just been completed, and looking back on all that that has happened since we left Yarmouth on that fateful Sunday in June 1940, I think we have every reason to be very thankful.
The school has been in safety and undisturbed by "crash" warnings and such like
The work of the School has been satisfactory and has suffered very little on the whole from the effects of the evacuation. The examination results were good, the number of Higher School Certificate successes the largest in our records.
To say good-bye when the School is still in "exile" is especially difficult for all who leave this term, whether Headmistress, staff or girls, but we look forward to a reunion some day in the dear old School or (who knows?) in a palatial edifice perhaps on or Playing Field!
Till then I must say good-bye or rather "God bless you all." May you all soon be restored in peace and safety to your homes in Yarmouth, and may any difficulties you have experienced during the war have so strengthened your character that in the future you may be able to take a real part in the establishing of the "new order" in the world, which can only succeed if founded on righteousness, peace and justice.
With love to you all from
Your very affectionate Head Mistress
M.S.Copeman.
Miss Copeman retired and Miss E.Kerr was appointed as Head Mistress.
Miss H.Dawson retired.
Called to Higher Service:
Pat Almond
Betty Guest
Brenda Holmes
Barbara Rumbold.
The 60th Anniversary of the evacuation of children from Great Yarmouth to Retford. The evacuees were housed in Retford,Tuxford,Harworth,Leverton,Wheatley,Misterton,Bawtry, Laneham and Oldcotes.
Young Evacuees: Great Yarmouth High School sixth form school pupils in Retford, 1940-41
A clip from "Through the Porthole" June 2000:
As if by magic 3700 children, 3700 gas masks, 3700 ration books and 3700 of everything else the youngsters took with them were deposited in the trains and whirled off. And with this activity going on around them , the children just smiled, or chattered, or drank in the scene with their eyes, but never became upset or irritable.
"It was a remarkable tribute to East Anglian level-headedness. They were going to homes they had never seen and among people they had never met, but somehow the greatness of the moment had touched them-they knew why they were going, and they were all out to stick it. In all the 3700 there were not enough tears to wet a good handkerchief!"
Heath Joyce (? Joyce Heath?) a High School girl from Trafalgar Road told her parents later of "simply glorious scenery" paddling in brooks and becks, swimming in the river.
As if by magic 3700 children, 3700 gas masks, 3700 ration books and 3700 of everything else the youngsters took with them were deposited in the trains and whirled off. And with this activity going on around them , the children just smiled, or chattered, or drank in the scene with their eyes, but never became upset or irritable.
"It was a remarkable tribute to East Anglian level-headedness. They were going to homes they had never seen and among people they had never met, but somehow the greatness of the moment had touched them-they knew why they were going, and they were all out to stick it. In all the 3700 there were not enough tears to wet a good handkerchief!"
Heath Joyce (? Joyce Heath?) a High School girl from Trafalgar Road told her parents later of "simply glorious scenery" paddling in brooks and becks, swimming in the river.
Wartime Evacuation by Maureen Edwards ( nee Reynolds)
Please click on "Download File" to be able to read Maureen's memories.
| maureenedwardsevacuation.pdf |
Turmoil 1943 by Mollie Blake
The great machine lumbered through the white street,
And long windows clattered, and tall buildings shook,
Children ran quickly to hear the beast roar,
But women bent over their knitting still more;
Dogs barked defiance and cats hissed in fury,
Horses stamped sharply and birds twittered nervously,
And the long road rang with the noise of excitement,
Every child's face was alight with fierce ecstasy,
Old men shook their heads with a stupified wonder,
The women inside called out to their children-
"come away, come, there is nothing to see!"
But they lingered, they wanted to shout and sing,
To see the huge creature outlined in the snow,
To see shapeless masses against nature's glory,
To see something new and ignore real beauty.
Whilst the men meditate, vaguely resisting
The quick stir of wonder disturbing their being,
And who,who could blame them, poor peace loving creatures,
It clumsily rolled over hillocks of snow
As it took its first journey along the quaint road.
The older folk turned and went back to their dwellings,
the soldier inside the tank waved, - and 'twas gone.
And long windows clattered, and tall buildings shook,
Children ran quickly to hear the beast roar,
But women bent over their knitting still more;
Dogs barked defiance and cats hissed in fury,
Horses stamped sharply and birds twittered nervously,
And the long road rang with the noise of excitement,
Every child's face was alight with fierce ecstasy,
Old men shook their heads with a stupified wonder,
The women inside called out to their children-
"come away, come, there is nothing to see!"
But they lingered, they wanted to shout and sing,
To see the huge creature outlined in the snow,
To see shapeless masses against nature's glory,
To see something new and ignore real beauty.
Whilst the men meditate, vaguely resisting
The quick stir of wonder disturbing their being,
And who,who could blame them, poor peace loving creatures,
It clumsily rolled over hillocks of snow
As it took its first journey along the quaint road.
The older folk turned and went back to their dwellings,
the soldier inside the tank waved, - and 'twas gone.
Old Forgotten Things 1948/49 by Marion Peck
We've forgotten the days, and the pre-war times,
When shopping was not such a vice,
And windows of plenty were seen in the streets,
And things were ne'er such a price.
We gasp at the price of a small child's coat,
When the bill for six pounds greets our eyes,
Then the shopkeeper calmly says, "Isn't it cheap?"
And is shocked by our look of surprise.
When shopping for crockery, you dare venture forth,
When odd cups for a shilling you buy,
Then you'll long for the beautiful sets of the past
Now, "For Export Only," you sigh.
But think not of the luxuries of the far past,
Of cheap goods, and unrationed sweets;
But dream of the New Year, new hopes, better times,
Now that Christmas draws near with its treats.
When shopping was not such a vice,
And windows of plenty were seen in the streets,
And things were ne'er such a price.
We gasp at the price of a small child's coat,
When the bill for six pounds greets our eyes,
Then the shopkeeper calmly says, "Isn't it cheap?"
And is shocked by our look of surprise.
When shopping for crockery, you dare venture forth,
When odd cups for a shilling you buy,
Then you'll long for the beautiful sets of the past
Now, "For Export Only," you sigh.
But think not of the luxuries of the far past,
Of cheap goods, and unrationed sweets;
But dream of the New Year, new hopes, better times,
Now that Christmas draws near with its treats.
