Local WWII evacuee shares memories with school children

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Apr 04, 2018

A Colne View resident and WWII evacuee, visited a local primary school to share her memories of wartime Britain. 

89 year old Betty Wood was invited to Richard de Clare Primary School to help the children understand more about the Second World War. 

In 1939 Betty was evacuated from her home in Chadwell Heath aged just eleven years old. Betty was sent to Corpusty in Norfolk which she loved and described her time there as being ‘an adventure’. Nine months later Betty was back in Chadwell Heath in the midst of The Blitz, and it wasn’t long before she was sent back to Norfolk for another year as an evacuee. 

Betty and the Care UK team from Colne View spent the day with Year 6 pupils at Richard de Clare Primary School, explaining what life was like for children growing up in WWII. There was also the opportunity for the children to see some WWII memorabilia, re-enact life in an air raid shelter and enjoy a month’s worth of sweet rations. 

Customer relations manager at Colne View, Kim Richardson, said: “Here at Colne View it is important for us to build strong relationships with the local community so we were delighted when Betty was asked to share her stories and experiences with the children. 

“The children loved hearing about Betty’s fascinating life and understanding how different things were for children growing up during the war. It was also a lovely reminiscence exercise for Betty seeing all of the WWII memorabilia and talking about her memories of the time. 

“We look forward to working with the school again andhope to build on the friendships which have been forged.”