Printed in the November 2009 edition of the Curry Rivel News

Seventy years ago one hundred and ten children and fifteen adults, evacuated by train from Dagenham, arrived in Curry Rivel. The Curry Rivel News has been in touch with two of those children, Wally Mankelow and Ray Nash, and the following are some reminiscences of their war time experiences in the village.

Wally arrived with his two sisters and brother whilst Ray was more fortunate in that his mother, who was appointed as one of the carers, accompanied him and his brother Jim. 'We had to go to school with a clean change of clothes and a gas mask. We had labels pinned to our coats with our names and other details just in case we got lost', said Wally who was eight. Ray who was six years old remembers crying during most of the long train journey to Langport. The evacuees were taken to the Robert Sewers Hall in Curry Rivel where they were allocated to various households. Wally and his siblings hoped not to be spilt up and were some of the last children to leave the hall, 'I don't remember how long we waited but I remember most of the other children had been taken when this lady and gentleman walked in, it was explained that we did not want to be separated and after much deliberation they agreed to take all four of us'. Wally and his brother and sisters were driven to Heale House, their first time in a car, where they were shown to their rooms in the servants' quarters. The cook told the children that the lady who had collected them was Mrs Davidson a widow who had spent much of her married life in South Africa and Rhodesia 'making money in the diamond business.' Ray, with his mother and brother, was accommodated at Wiltown House owned by Mr and Mrs Sparkes. He remembers that he was allowed to play in the garden but only when the gardener was there! Wally was to stay for three enjoyable years with Mrs Davidson. The loft was like a museum containing memorabilia of the Davidsons' time in Africa, there were bows and arrows, a muzzle loading pistol, rifles and even a sword. Evacuated donkeys from the seaside were harnessed to a little cart and Wally was given the task of going around the park collecting wood for the fires. There were trips to the cinema in Taunton where Wally saw Pinocchio and The Wizard of Oz.

Wally and Ray were both pupils at Curry Rivel Primary School and remember Mr Guy addressing them on their first day. Ray was a member of the church choir, 'at the Christmas Eve Service of 1944 I sang a solo, an experience I have never forgotten.' By this time Wally had left the village, his father was killed in a flying accident in 1942 and he went to live in Herne Bay with his grandparents. Ray stayed until 1946. By the time he returned to Dagenham he had stayed in seven different houses in the village. Listening to the accounts of those who had not been evacuated Ray realised how lucky he had been to spend the war years safely away from the bombing. 'We spent only one night under the stairs and the next day heard the news that a bomb had exploded in Yeovil. As for rationing we were barely affected, there was plenty of fruit and veg to eat'.

Both men now in their 70s have fond memories of the village. 'We were very lucky to have gone to Curry Rivel. We had such a lovely time there, not like some children who had terrible experiences', said Wally. Ray agrees, 'During this time I was always well treated and I have always said my stay in the village was an enjoyable adventure.'

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