Memories of Grounds Farm in the 1940s

Tim Huckvale writes: The Sibfords History Society is grateful to Ann O’Hara for providing us with her account of life as a child evacuee: My memories of life at Grounds Farm during and after the war.

Her vivid memoir captures the grit, warmth, and resilience of life at the farm during and after WWII. From harvesting grain with ancient machinery and braving snowy treks to school, to preserving eggs in gloopy isinglass and dodging a terrifying playground dentist, the stories are rich with detail and charm. The author’s childhood is filled with hard work, chilblains, and moments of joy — like playing on straw stacks and earning real wages for farm labour.