| Description | In 1940, parents of some the WPM pupils were concerned that the school was too close to the coast, and evacuation was considered. Canada was the first choice, but the cost ruled this out. Cape Town in South Africa was then the choice, and so in late July 1940 Miss Stromwall and Miss Williams accompanied nine pupils there. The girls were Anna Rolfe (12), Jane Elliott (11), Marion Kanter (11), Brenda Richardson (10), Valerie Hollis-Williams (9), Judy Garrett (7), and Lesley Light (6); the boys were Roger Rolfe (8 - Anna's brother) and Tony Watson (6). Also in the party were Barbara Bradley (21, with learning difficulties), and Mrs Wardell (Marion's grandmother). An account of the period in South Africa appears in WPM 1/6/1 pp22-35; a photograph 'Receiving letters from home in South Africa, 1941' is facing page 27. There are also accounts in WPM 1/6/2. The group returned to England in March 1945. |