Dorothy Hagarty shares a photo of a reunion between her family and wartime evacuees who stayed with them on George Street.

This is a photo taken at the back of my grandmother’s home at 30 George Street in Brandon.  I am the one back row right.  Next to me is my ‘aunt’ Connie, who was my grandmother s evacuee, who along with her sister came from London to be safe from the bombing.  Her three daughters are also in the photo.  Left back row, my cousin Neville and his mother and father who also lived at 30 George Street.

My mother also had three girls from London and another from the North of England who lived nearby.  I wasn’t born until the war ended but all these children and their parents kept in touch with my family as they were very grateful to be taken in and loved by our family.  We always saw them as family.  I am so proud of my mum and my nan to give so much love to children in this way.  That was not easy as there were many hardships – rationing etc.  I know some evacuees had a harder struggle and were not given kindness.  The girls my family took in never forgot and visited regularly.  Sadly all but one passed away before my mum and the last one attended my mum’s funeral 3 yrs ago.  She said she counted herself so very lucky to have such a lovely aunt Beat (my mum).