I toddled off to school two years too early!

CaRoLine SCATTERGOOD’s letter about her daughter’s ‘great escape’ reminded me of my own experience.

When war broke out, we were eventually evacuated from the east coast to newtown in Wales, where my dad was stationed. i was three years old at the time. an aunt was also staying with us, with her young baby — our cousin. one rainy day, the aunt went out of our house through the side gate to put the baby in the pram and unfortunately, left the gate unlatched. Guess who slipped through it unseen? Me! i went down the road, across a busy crossroads, over a fast-running river, through the town, over another busy crossroads, and landed up at the school where my brother and sister were pupils. i had travelled about half a mile on my own. i knocked on the staff room door and they all whisked away their coffee cups in case it was an inspector. in i walked with my boots on the wrong feet and my raincoat buttoned up askew and announced: ‘i have come to school.’ a teacher sat me down by my sister with an abacus until i was later taken home. you can imagine the horror of Mum and aunty when they found i was missing. Dad’s headquarters were in the same street as the school and he was contacted to arrange a search party, little knowing i was safe at the school. They went through the town looking for me, even calling in at a favourite sweet shop where we were sometimes given sweets. all ended well!

Janet Williams, Chinnor, oxon.