I don't remember the journey but I do remember the little hall in Oakthorpe Staffordshire crowded with people waiting to be billeted. That is to be found a place to live.

My friend Jean and her mother were taken in by the Headmaster of the local school and his wife Mr. and Mrs. Allen. Later I discovered this man was a bit of a tyrant. He was disliked by all his pupils.

Mum, my two sisters and myself were taken to the local Post-Office cum Bakery cum General Store. Luckily we were all kept together.

The family were Mr. and Mrs. Ward who ran the shop, William and Jack their sons who worked a smallholding together as well as helping to run the shop, and Rita their daughter, who travelled to Leicester daily to work. Tilly - William's wife also lived there. It was a fairly large house and to us quite luxurious.

On arrival we had a bath in a real bathroom
with lashings of hot water on tap. The water was so hot it felt cold!