Wartime Reminiscences

This letter has been received from a former worshipper at St George's....

I used to live at 35 Rowlands Avenue during the war. As a young teenager I used to ring the bell, pump the organ, and serve at communion. Rev Wyckham was the incumbent at the time and it was he who taught confirmation lessons. I still have the small psalter he presented at the time of confirmation. I well remember the tanks and DUKW's lining up along the London Road ready for the D Day landings. These were strafed at regular intervals by German aircraft and even today you can see the pock marks of bullets in nearby houses. "Any gum chum?" was a regular plea addressed to the GI's.

I often wonder what happened to one of the orphanage girls I fell in love with and had to leave when I was whisked off to Birmingham to start an apprenticeship in 1945.

I visited your church earlier this year. Very different to how it was in my day. It was good to see that the original East window still survives.

My wife Dee & I worship at Malvern Priory where we were married 12 years ago.

Best wishes to you, your family, and your parishioners.

God Bless you All

Victor Elliott