Click here to register on OneGuyFromBarlick|2|1
Author Previous Topic Topic Previous Topic  
Doc
Keeper of the Scrolls


2010 Posts
Posted -  13/05/2004  :  14:15
EARBY EVACUEES 1939 - 1945


A large number of people were evacuated to Earby during the Second World War from all over England, but mainly from Bradford, London, the Midlands and Hull. Why Earby had such a large number of evacuees is not known, except that its quiet rural location and available housing would have been a factor. The first evacuees came from Bradford and most of these went back after several months, but the ones from other places stayed for the full extent of the war. Also some families remained in the area after the war was over. This is an account from Michael Rowbottom now living in Kirk Hammerton, York, of his experiences as an evacuee in Earby.

"I was evacuated to Earby in 1940 along with my elder brother, Frank, I was eight and he was nine at the time and well remember being taken by bus from St. Clares R.C. Primary School in Fagley, Bradford, down to Forster Square Station to be taken to Earby. It seemed the whole school was evacuated but looking back probably only the older juniors, though, sometime later, mother also arrived with baby John and was billeted a few houses away from the bungalow where I stayed. I remember boarding the bus, we all had small attaché cases, waving goodbye to our parents and then transferring to the train and steaming away in the care of our teachers to the safe haven of Earby.
When we arrived we were taken to a large hall (New Road School) where we were presented with a carrier bag full with groceries, sugar, butter, jam, a tin of corned beef and some chocolate. We were then divided into groups and in a long crocodile form taken round the streets to be delivered to our hosts. In our case they turned out to be Mr. and Mrs. Hopkinson who lived in a bungalow in Salterforth Lane, over the level crossing, bearing left and opposite the Church on the right (R.C., I think) to be deposited on the door step where we were warmly welcomed by our foster parents to be.

They were a very generous couple who looked after us very well indeed. Frank shared a large double bed in the front of the house which I recall was nicely furnished. One memory which afforded us great amusement took place at many a meal time when Mr. Hopkinson, who had a wooden leg, abruptly left the table to dash outside to pick up a water filled bucket to throw over the blind horse which used to lean over the fence to eat his plants and flowers. It took a great deal of self control to keep our faces straight.

During the day we attended the local school where the hall was divided by blankets strung on a line to make separate teaching areas. In the evenings and weekends we roamed the fields and the hill above Salterforth Lane with our school friends who were billeted close by. I seem to remember there was some degree of hostility between local children and ourselves or was it just imagined to create some sort of excitement?
However, they were enjoyable times.

We would stand in the middle of the railway bridge and wait for the "Barlick Spud Roaster" as we called the train which travelled between Earby and Barnoldswick. We would dare one another to remain on the footbridge amid the clouds of smoke and steam until the train had passed underneath.

Brendan Barry, still a close friend, remembers being housed in Boot Street and being awakened in the early morning by the "knocker up" who tapped on the windows to make sure.

Author Replies  
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 13/05/2004 : 17:53
More, more, I fell off the page!


Stanley Challenger Graham




Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk Go to Top of Page
Stevie
Mad Woman of Thornton


834 Posts
Posted - 14/05/2004 : 01:37
I'd like to know more about this too! Typically, being a mum, I can't help thinking 'evacuation of children' would never happen in these times due to the explosion in child abuse. It makes me wonder is this a new phenomenon and if it is....why?


Go to Top of Page
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 14/05/2004 : 05:37
Stevie, If you're asking about child abuse, the answer is no. I never realised it at the time but I was abused by the choirmaster at the church when I was a lad. Not serious but definitely it was about but hidden. The last great taboo that we haven't got round to yet is incest. It's alive and thriving but buried. It will surface soon and then we'll go and look for another, even nastier one. I'm always struck by the number of instances in the census figures of men living with 'housekeepers' and 'neices'.


Stanley Challenger Graham




Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk Go to Top of Page
Another
Traycle Mine Overseer


6250 Posts
Posted - 14/05/2004 : 15:50
Stevies' comments about child abuse and evacuation are interesting in that the first major piece of legislation to protect children in family settings - the 1948 Children Act - came about as a direct result of the murder of an evacuated child, Dennis O'Neill, by his foster parents. The Curtis Committee set up in 1946 found widespread abuse/exploitation of children who were evacuated. In addition they found from enquiries of hundreds of people who cared for evacuees that many arrived from their own homes badly neglected and abused.
I don't think that child abuse is more widespread today but that the investigation and reporting of it is much more in the public eye.
On a more positive note I'm sure that many evacuees who came to the Barlick area benefitted greatly. As a child I was minded by Alice Dickinson who lived on King St. She and her husband, Francis, had three girls who were evacuated from Bradford, I think. Two of them remained as part of the family and later married locally. Francis and Alice were good people who did their very best for the girls with, as far as I'm aware very little support from the state.


" I'm a self made man who worships his creator" Go to Top of Page
Stevie
Mad Woman of Thornton


834 Posts
Posted - 15/05/2004 : 00:28
I take your point about Incest being the last taboo. A friend of mine's husband left her many years ago to live with his niece! They are still together and apparently their joint family refuse to discuss it and just pretend its an 'uncle' and 'niece' A fact that astounds me to this day!

What makes people do this? I have always been interested in the 'why' of things and if you get people talking they can often explain the reasoning behind their behaviour, however unsociable that is! Incest could possibly be judged differently as I assume both parties are consentual..... but Child Abuse!! In my view it should be punnishable by death, preferably a very slow and very painful one .... nothing less!

And from my little rant there, I imagine I've now given everyone a reasonable idea of where I stand on the political spectrum! :-)



Go to Top of Page
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 15/05/2004 : 05:51
Righteous anger is nothing to do with politics in my book. If you feel strongly about something you are allowed to have an opinion. My only defence against these things has always been that I do what I can to keep my own house in order, recognise the fact that there is evil in the world but do not try to assume the role of a god, I am not responsible and I can't wave magic wands. Compulsion uncurbed is a terrible thing and always leads to trouble. I abhor it as you do, thank God that I do not spend the whole of my day thinking about it, I would go mad.....


Stanley Challenger Graham




Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk Go to Top of Page


Set us as your default homepage Bookmark us Privacy   Copyright © 2004-2011 www.oneguyfrombarlick.co.uk All Rights Reserved. Design by: Frost SkyPortal.net Go To Top Of Page

Page load time - 0.453