Second World War evacuees meet again at reunion in Lowestoft

Held at Lowestoft Railway Station on Saturday (June 1), the event gave former evacuees and family members a chance to catch up and reminisce.

With it being more than 80 years since over 3,000 schoolchildren and their teachers were evacuated from Lowestoft to Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire in June 1940, a popular reunion has been held once more.

Evacuees at Lowestoft Rail Station in June 1940. Picture: Newsquest archives (Image: Archant)

Over 600 of those evacuated found safety in and around the high peak town of Glossop, with the links formed between the two communities all those years ago still celebrated today.

Former Lowestoft Wartime Evacuees at their Summer Reunion event at Lowestoft railway station. Picture: Wherry Lines CRP (Image: Wherry Lines CRP)

Special guest at the reunion was Neil Williams, chairman of the Friends of Glossop Station, who updated with news about his hometown as a special large scale heritage event was held across the weekend.

Chair of the Friends of Glossop Station, Neil Williams. Picture: Neil Williams (Image: Neil Williams)

Mr Williams said: "This weekend Glossop is hosting a special heritage weekend and the story of the 600 children and their teachers from Lowestoft who found sanctuary within the town is being retold in a special exhibition.

"I’m so pleased that both our communities continue to cherish these important memories and that the friendships made are not only still celebrated but are now being retold for future generations."

Mr Williams has been working to preserve the memories and friendships made between Glossop and Lowestoft over 80 years ago, hosting tours of the town for former evacuees and their families and like Lowestoft station, Glossop station also has permanent history panels retelling the events of the evacuation.

From left: Former Lowestoft evacuee, Alma Mingay, right Neil Williams, chair of the Friends of Glossop Station. Picture: Wherry Lines CRP (Image: Wherry Lines CRP)

Also attending the reunion was Lowestoft resident and former evacuee, Alma Mingay, who along with her siblings was billeted in Glossop throughout the war.

Each year the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and Lowestoft Central Project hosts the reunion event at Lowestoft station - where those evacuated had departed from aboard a number of special trains 84 years ago.

Founder of the former Lowestoft Evacuees Association, Chris Brooks, and Sandra Delph, co-author of the book ‘A Long Way From Home’ which retells many individual Lowestoft evacuees experiences, were also present at the reunion.