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Evacuee What a wonderful website. I am 85 years of age and was an evacuee at Stillington Hall for 3 and half years. I was most pleased to see the article from Anthony and Ambrose Richard re their stay at Stillington Hall and totally agree with their story. The Alexian Brothers were excellent members of that Catholic order and my stay at Stillington Hall certainly made a man out of me. Our guardian Jack Burke certainly did a good job looking after us. One of my late brothers was also evacuated with me. We were firstly evacuated to a family at Sutton on Forest but after three months we were transferred to Stillington Hall. I have been back a couple of years ago and was completely surprised that the hall had been demolished. Today I don't think it would have been allowed. The farm buildings that we were billeted in are now houses apart from a part of the yard which was used by the Manson family. I remember the Manson lads when I was there. Also I went to see the old mill and was pleasantly surprised to see how wonderfully it had been transformed into a lovely home. I had many a happy time playing on the dam. I have a photo of all the evacuees which was taken on the green near the village hall.I was also surprised to see the village blacksmith's shop which was opposite the village hall and is now a beautiful house. I don't think there will be many of those evacuee lads still alive today. I have tried to get a photo of the Hall over the years but have not been successful so if any one knows were I can get copies of the photo's that are in your archive then I would be delighted.Thank you Stillington for some lovely memories.Syd Draper
Sydney Draper