Barbara Freeman, who was known as Barbara Woodroffe when she was a child living in Ross-on-Wye, was thrilled to see the letter the Ross Gazette published recently asking if anyone had any memories of an evacuee, Charles Doughty.

The letter had been sent to the Gazette by Charles’ daughter as she knew it would be a pleasure to him to see or read any links to his time in Ross, as he is now in his 80s and not in very good health.

Mrs Freeman, who now lives in Stourbridge immediately wrote to Charles’ daughter to tell her that she remembered Charlie very well. He was evacuated to Bromsash Villas where he lived with a woman Barbara called Aunty Nelly. She said: "She was not a relative by birth, but we were closer to her than any relative."

This meant that, although they went to different primary schools, and there was a four year age gap, Charlie was about eight years old and Barbara was about four, when he was sent to live in Ross, they saw a lot of each other. Barbara can remember that he was always great fun, a bit of a tease, but they played together very well.

Barbara lived in Brookend Street, in the large house next to the new Aldi store. She said that her family also had lots of evacuees staying and there were always children to play with. She recalled that her birthday parties were wonderful because they had so much space and Charlie was always there.

She added : "It seems terrible to say it now, but as a child it was a wonderful time in Ross during the war and I remember it really well."

Barbara still loves Ross and visits as often as she can, staying at Merton House.

She said: "When I talked to friends who had known Charlie, we often used to wonder why he never got back in touch after he went home to London, he always seemed very happy here, he was in his early teens then."

She told the Ross Gazette that she was thrilled that his daughter had replied to her letter and told her that Charlie had often spoken about his time there when she was a child."

Barbarba is very much looking forward to getting to know Charlie again after Christmas.