An Evacuee
The year is 1939 and the Wallace family are on holiday in Bognor Regis when war is declared. For each family member this news brings differing expectations, but little does eight-year-old Roger realise that his happy childhood world, shared with three brothers and a sister and his best friend Jimmy Smith, is about to be turned upside down.
Roger, his brother Gerry and sister Margaret are evacuated. He is separated from them and moved from home to home through no fault of his own; often left with totally unsuitable guardians and experiencing the torment of being an ‘outsider’.
At first he copes with this situation because others from his school, including Jimmy, are also evacuated in the area, but when most go back home in 1942 he becomes lonely and resorts to desperate measures to avoid his anticipated fate.
This childhood wartime story is full of real characters such as ‘Old Sam’ and his hilarious escapade in the churchyard with the vicar’s wife, vicar and sexton; and later in the story there is the sad and frightening tale of the ‘Skimmington’ and poor Gertie who had broken the ‘moral code’.
The author was himself evacuated twice and draws considerably on his own experiences, giving this captivating story a truly authentic feel.
ISBN: 9781852000875
Size: 217x140mm
Binding: hardback
Length: 206pp
About the author:
Leslie Scrase
The author was born in Addiscombe, East Croydon. He was evacuated in 1939 and again in 1940, which led to his attendance at Selhurst Grammar School followed by Shebbear College in North Devon.
Following National Service in the Royal Navy he went to Richmond College, London University. Trained as a Methodist Minister, he worked in many places around Britain and also in South India, where he was Principal of an adult training college.
When his views on theology changed, Leslie Scrase left his Ministry and created his own business in Surrey: Alpha Cars, a chauffeur driven service mostly for businessmen and the stars. In 1996 he left this business to concentrate on his work as a Humanist Celebrant, lecturer and author.
His published books include a number of thought-provoking commentaries dealing with Humanism and theology, fiction for both adults and children, poetry and three autobiographical fiction accounts:
Twice married, he and Wendy share over twenty grandchildren. In their spare time they are to be found at their home in Dorset.
