Watching the Evacuation Special go by at Rolvenden

I squeezed in a short turn of two round trips of the Evacuation Specials which we always run on the Monday after the Forties Weekend.

This is where today’s children get to re-enact the experience what it might be like to be evacuated during the war. They all had their boxes for gas masks and many were dressed up in Forties style clothes. Adults too took full part.

Many children waved as they passed the signalbox as they were busy with their worksheets. The food they were stuffing in as they went past bore no resemblance to what wartime evacuees would have been eating.

The gentleman in orange watching on as the train passed is none other than our very own “Frim” Halliwell, star of a recent episode from Michael Portillo Great British Railway Journeys. Frim starred as the driver and commentator on Michael’s trip along the sort section of the Rother Valley Railway from Roberstsbridge Junction toward Bodiam - which by 2027 will join with our line at Bodiam.

PS Susan has asked me to pass on her thanks for all your lovely birthday wishes.