Real-life evacuation tales inspire World War II concert in Rustington

TRAUMATIC childhood memories of being evacuated from their homes to avoid the devastating bombing runs by the Luftwaffe during the second world war will be relived for choristers in Littlehampton.

As Remembrance Day approaches, some members of the Edwin James Festival Choir will be using their childhood wartime experiences to give their latest show more emotional gravatus.

The next musical, Strangers, which launches later next month, will form the core part of the overall concert, entitled A Time for Remembrance.

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The musical will tell the story of East End children Eve and her brother Billy, who are evacuated to a village in Yorkshire.

Both are separated and frightened and find themselves experiencing contrasting treatment – much like some of the members of Edwin James, whose stories mirror those of the young protagonists.

Choir member Pat Lehmann was sent to north Wales as a youngster, during the second world war to avoid the heavy and sustained bombing in Merseyside where she lived.

She said: “While the war was an unpleasant time for so many people, I was around four or five when me and my best friend Margaret were evacuated together.

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“My personal memories are simply of playing on the beach, having a lovely time at the seaside and picking vegetables from the garden including peas straight from the pod which was paradise considering we only had a back yard at home.”

Some 60 years later in 2011, watching the TV series Coast and, by chance, a programme concentrating on parts of north Wales and in particular the Llyn coastline, Pat found all the memories returning.

Prompted by the programme, Pat decided to visit Aberdaron, the first time she’d been back there since her evacuation.

She said many of the happy memories created during this time had stayed with her for the rest of her life.

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In stark contrast, Marie Stoneham – a founding member and honorary patron of the choir – said her evacuation from her home in Thornton Heath, Surrey, was a nightmare.

“I found myself aged five, separated from my family and sent to Shoreham to attend school in a seaside town where it was thought I would be safe. During the two months I was there, I lived with a young couple and the man was a wife-beater. Whenever the woman started screaming I was handed the baby and sent to the kitchen.”

She eventually moved and rejoined her sister. The pair lived in cramped conditions with a couple that used to beat them, lock them in the cupboard under the stairs, and abuse them verbally.

“We were terrified of that couple, so said nothing to anyone when asked if we were happy and being treated well,” she said.

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Strangers will take place on November 9, at Littlehampton United Church, in East Ham Road, with a second at the Woodland Centre, in Woodlands Avenue, Rustington, on November 23, which will be in aid of the Littlehampton branch of the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes. Shows begin at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 and available on 01243 592330 or on the night at the door. A two-minute silence will take place on both nights.

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