How jars of jam helped make life a bit sweeter for Wyre Farm evacuees

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/yourspace/2010/07/12/how-jars-of-jam-helped-make-life-a-bit-sweeter-for-wyre-farm-evacuees-92746-26836645/ Read More

From the Coventry Telegraph July 2010

PENSIONER Bert Gummery Bert, aged 82, who lives in Bonds Court in the city centre’s Hill Street, was one of the first evacuees to arrive at the school in 1940 as bombs rained down on the city.

"I was one of the first intake of evacuees there. I remember arriving at the school clutching a jar of jam – we were all allowed to take a jar of home-made jam with us with our name on which were able to have at meal times. I also recall a photographer taking our picture; I have kept a look-out in the Telegraph in the hope that the photo might appear, but it hasn't. I would love to see a copy if anyone still has one.”

Bert has happy memories of his time at Wyre Farm at Cleobury Mortimer: “We were all put into houses named after districts in Coventry – I was in Earlsdon house – and we slept in house dormitories in bunk beds. We had lessons each day and played a lot of sports and games, especially football and cricket. I can remember us marching down to the village to church and also going to a cinema in the village. It was strict; you had to behave yourself just like at ordinary school, but we enjoyed it and mother used to visit every month from Coventry.”

Bert, known on the Coventry darts circuit after playing in the Chapelfields and district league for more than 40 years, went on to serve in the Army in Italy and later worked at the city’s Robins and Powers flour mill and Coventry Radiators press shop.

Wyre Farm Camp School was established just before the start of the Second World War after a government quango was set up to investigate the poor health of city children. It decided to establish boarding schools around the UK to offer city youngsters an opportunity to live and study in a more beautiful environment. In 1957 the school was taken over by Coventry City Council and became the City of Coventry Boarding School. It closed in the 1970s and fell into decay, but after extensive renovation is now in use as an outdoor pursuits centre.