Author searches for Tottington evacuee

Sylvia McHale, who has written a fascinating book on her experiences during the time she spent as an evacuee called, 'Time to Stand and Stare' '“ Tottington Memories 1939-1943, is hoping to make contact with Daphne Le Friec who she believes now resides in the local area.

Sylvia became aware that Daphne had also been evacuated to Tottington, near Bury in Lancashire, when she recently read a letter Daphne had written to the Daily Mail.

Sylvia said: "The letter was from a Daphne Le Friec of Bexhill on Sea and she was answering a question about Guernsey coins. She said she was a native of Guernsey and that she had been evacuated during World War Two to Tottington."

She added: "I was an evacuee '“ but from Manchester. Four years ago I had a book published about the time I spent there. The arrival of evacuees from the Channel Islands is referred to in the book, and there is a photo of some of them arriving."

Some of the girls evacuated to Tottington subsequently became employed as maids in the large houses in the area, including 'Gorsey Clough' the stunning manor house where Sylvia lived at the time.

"Some girls, on leaving school, were employed as maids in big houses and one from Guernsey came to be a maid at the house where I was living. She features in the book and is with us on the cover photograph and others that were taken before we left."

Since writing her book Sylvia often gives talks on her book and her war time experiences and said she is always pleasantly surprised by the links she has come across in the audiences with people she knew back then adding:

"This possibility of hearing about the Channel Island evacuees' later lives intrigues me."

'Time to Stand and Stare' is not only packed with memories and information of the years Sylvia spent as a young girl in Tottington, but also contains a series of classic black and white photographs depicting life at the time, and Sylvia would like Daphne to have a copy.

She said: "Maybe she will find pleasant memories of Tottington in it."

If anyone has any information on Daphne please contact the Bexhill Observer on (01434) 730555.

For further information on Sylvia's book visit the Manchester & Lancashire Family History website bookshop at: www.mlshs.org.uk or www.ranelaghbooks.co.uk