Peter Andrews – evacuee – wrote to Eric Fowell in 1995

In 1940 I was evacuated from Peckham in SE London, to Rushden, with my younger sister and brother.

My brother went to a children’s home, my sister to Mr & Mrs Smythe in Hall Avenue, and I went to Mr and Mrs Baker in St Mary’s Avenue.

My sister and I were moved because of sickness in the family where I was billeted. We went to Mr & Mrs Nicholson but cannot remember the address. Again we were moved because of sickness in the family and were billeted with Mr & Mrs Woods in Robert Street.

One day in November 1940 we were occupied watching the army move into am empty shoe factory which was next door but one to us. The same evening the air raid warning was sounded and later a bomb exploded in the garden of the house opposite. We were moved the next day and billeted with Mr & Mrs Green in the Hayway where we stayed until we returned to London in 1941.

We did appreciate the kindness shown by our foster parents but we were very homesick. Our school was a wooden hut adjacent to the Central School in the Hayway. I remember teaching other children to knit!

We are writing our family history and although this period was relatively short it was very important to us. Therefore we will appreciate any information you can provide about the bombing of Robert Street, reports and photographs, the war photographs of Robert Street. Any information on the children’s home where my brother was billeted. We think it was near the junction in Washbrook Road and Higham Road.

If you let me know the costs I will reimbursed you with a cheque. Thank you for your interest and kindness. Yours sincerely, Peter Andrews.