Faith

In 1940 shortly before the German forces occupied the Channel Islands - hundreds of children were separated from their families and evacuated to the UK. One of these was nine year old Pat Nichols, who along with her younger brother and two sisters, was sent to Glasgow.

In March 2009, a Scottish church placed an advertisement in the Guernsey Press calling all former Glasgow evacuees. The Church of Scotland in South Shawlands, Glasgow, celebrates its centenary in October 2009, and on a search for ways to mark the occasion, found a small article in one of its 1940's church magazines on the subject of the "Guernsey guests".

Mrs Dorothy Guillard, daughter Joan and Mrs Beard

An initial meeting was organised at the Collinette hotel to gather stories from all former evacuees. Guernsey woman Ann Morris volunteered to help, initially thinking she would only be required to "pour tea and coffee" - but became inspired and assisted those in Glasgow with gathering information.

She said the South Shawlands church's example gave her a strong sense of practical Christianity - of Christians "rolling up their sleeves". But it was also the former evacuees' stories:

"I think it's the fact that the individuals like Pat and many others... have actually told me time after time that they felt that the Glasgow evacuee story has not been told." 

Pat Nichols was one of those who answered the request to share her story. She remembered the chaos of the day when she was sent away: "...people were shouting don't go! don't go! don't be yellow! And all this sort of thing. It was awful."

After promising her parents she would look after her four year old brother, Pat was shocked when boys and girls - including siblings - were separated: "when we got up to Glasgow... I was screaming and saying - no you can't take him! And they let him stay with me - but my other two sisters were separated as well."

"Its when you look back you can't believe what was happening there."

Volunteer Ann Morris said: "I think the people themselves are saying that before they die, they really do wish their story to be told, because it was such an important part of their life. And for many of them it gave them a new beginning in so many ways."

Any former Glasgow evacuees are invited to come together in Guernsey to share their stories on Saturday 17 October 2009 at the Church of Scotland - St Andrews in the Grange from ten until twelve noon.