Edward Gill is well known to many villagers, as one of the evacuees who came to Norton in Hales at the outbreak of World War 2. He has already published a book about his reminiscences of the time he spent in the village over 60 years ago.
Edward now lives in South Wales but still keeps in regular contact with the village all these years later. Most recently, Edward has written some more of his memories of the time.
Further memories from evacuee Edward Gill
Edward Gill wrote to us on 16 November 2016 from his home in Thornhill, Cardiff, expressing his sadness at the death of Douglas Chelmick of Forge Lane, Norton in Hales, who died on 7 November 2016. Douglas’s wife Mavis died some months earlier.
Edwards writes “ I had known Douglas since my arrival at Norton in Hales in 1939. With my brother Albert we served in the choir together and his father, who had a useful bass voice, sat in the stall behind us. Douglas was one of many dear friends from Norton, Bellaport and Betton who are no longer with us and whose memory I treasure. I think Mary Keay and Jean Jones, nee Swire, are the only ones of the originals left. I enclose a photograph taken at the Falcon Hotel in Woore. Of those in the photo only Mary and I have survived the years. On the photo, they are L-R, Toni my brother Albert’s wife, Mary Keay, my brother Albert, Douglas Chelmick, myself, and Douglas’s wife Mavis. The photo was taken in September 1999 as part of the Evacuees’ 60th Anniversary Celebrations.
‘Time like an ever rolling stream bears all its sons away’”
Edward will be 88 year old next month – December 2017
Article from the Shropshire Magazine, December 2016
