Creators are celebrating the success of 'caputuring memories' of evacuees in 1940 and putting it in books and film to share with the country.

Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership (TVCRP) and Wallsend Local History Society (WLHS) created a film called, “It started with a Train Ride”, which tells the story of the evacuees from Wallsend, who in 1940 were sent to stay with families in the Haltwhistle area.

Hexham Courant: TVCRPTVCRP (Image: TVCRP)

George and Phyll Laws, Vice Chair and Secretary of WLHS were contacted by Colin Moore, Director TVCRP about the idea of contacting evacuees and recording their reminiscences. 

"In 2019 TVCRP realised that July 2020 marked the 80th anniversary of the evacuation of children from Wallsend to Haltwhistle," a spokesperson for the TVCRP said.

"This could be the last time it would be possible to gather memories of those evacuated by rail in 1940. 

"Then along came Covid and the project had to be put back. 

"The idea was too good to be abandoned so George decided to put the reminiscences into book form which he produced himself. 

"Costs were kept to a minimum and it sold for £5. Over 400 were sold in Wallsend alone.

"Wallsend Local History Society were very supportive of the idea and placed notices in Old Folks Homes, which had a response from 32 people."

The idea to commission a film was born, and with crowd funding through Spacehive, support from the North of Tyne Combined Authority, Cross Country, donations from individuals and support from Northern, the Haltwhistle Film Project (HFP). 

TVCRP had wanted the film to increase young people's skills involved so Film Able, a film production company run by and for adults with learning difficulties interviewed contributors and provided the animations.  

Hexham Courant: TVRCPTVRCP (Image: TVRCP)

TVCRP spokesperson adds:"After 'set backs' the film was recently shown at at St. Luke's Church Hall, Wallsend and the Comrades' Club. Haltwhistle.

"This resulted in some 72 fascinating stories which were extracted from the interviews, one of which was from one of the boys who caught rabbits and regularly posted them to his parents in Wallsend for their lunch.

"We also had Scouts, Brownies, Rainbows and young people from Haltwhistle's Young and Sweet Youth Club, playing the role of evacuated children at Haltwhistle Station."

The film has recently been shortlisted for a Community Rail Award 2022 in the Involving Diverse Groups category.