In the Autumn of 1939 the Odney Club prepared for the arrival of over 100 evacuees: Partners families seeking sanctuary from the anticipated wartime bombing of London and other target cities. 80 evacuees spent Christmas 1939 at Odney and this number was increased when the fathers of each family were able to join them.
On Christmas Day over 100 people sat down for a traditional lunch. In the evening a special tea was served for the children and Mr Ronnie Ryall, manager of central despatch at Clearings, took the role of Father Christmas. Every youngster was given a present, courtesy of the Director of Trading.
Photograph of Partnership evacuee children, Odney 1939
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My brother Godfrey is in the middle of the front row looking curiously to the left and my sister Nina is the fairy right at the top of the picture. Both were evacuees from London, with my parents Alwin and Rene. They all lived first in Bridge House, now the Dower House.
In 2017 the 2 year old being held in the left of this image revisited Odney as a special treat for his 80th birthday. He was most surprised to see that his photo had been included in an exhibition about the Odney Club and even more surprised when we told him that we knew this and that a lunch table was waiting for him in the club as a special ‘VIP’ visitor.
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