Uttoxeter Online Magazine

Who remembers ME! I have been around quite a long time (in or near Uttoxeter since 1939)..but I was born in 1933.

My little `claim to fame` was that I came to this area as a war evacuee in 1939.

I assume we arrived at Uttoxeter train station - but my crowd were taken to Kingstone Village Women`s Institue (a wooden hut then). There were were picked out by various local people who had opted to `take an evacuee`. I was taken to live with Mary Beeson, who then lived at the bottom of Blythe Bridge bank.

As my own family had fractured and gotten themselves lost I was left there throughout the war years, then when I was around 17 and was working at Elkes Biscuit factory as a van-drivers mate......I joined the RAF for five years.

I also did a spell at Bamford`s farm machinery factory - later I married Rose Madden (who also worked at Elkes) from Rugeley and we had two daughters. We first lived up Heath Road in Windmill row (gone now).

All of us war evacuees who were deposited at various places around Uttoxeter are either getting old or have died now: but it was a time in history worth recording....my life spans the years from 1933 to now - 2008.

Actually, it was no fun being an evacuee and some of us had a very rough time.

'Mickey'

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In Response to the person who wrote this article. He didn't leave a name so it would be difficult to know who he may be.

I remember Mary Beeson at the bottom of Blythe Bridge Bank. She, Mary Beeson, was fondly known by the local children as 'Aunty Mary' and her husband was 'Uncle Ken.' My Great Aunt owned the shop at the bottom of Blythe Bridge Bank her name was Mollie Mold.

There was a bakery and travelling van which my father used to use to make deliveries around the area.

Carole Powell, Ontario Canada

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This is in reply to `Carole Powell` who wrote a small letter in reply to my memory article. She asked who I was. My name is Michael John Bird, and yes - I knew her Great Aunt Mollie Mould and her hubby Harry very well. In fact, as a kid, I did odd jobs for them for pocket money. I rode along in that baker`s van too!

If she would like to hear more about those old times, here is my email address:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . She can write me anytime.