As a child I&several other kids was evacuated to Rookes Farm, Little London<1939> the tennants off the farm were Will & Clara Hagger .I went to school in Berden & was later moved To the church hall ,I got a scholar ship from there but was repatriated to London before attending Highschool .Would like to comunicate with anyone who has history of that era , I still remember a lot of Names from the area ,just need a prod .... Stan Harvey .Sydney. Australia...

Hi Stan

I’ve just found this web site and your message about Clara and William Hagger. Clara’s maiden name was Freeman and she was my Nan’s cousin (ie. her father David Freeman was my Gt. Grandfather Benjamin Freeman’s brother). They were all born in Meesden. Nan wouldn’t have known Clara though, as by the time of her birth (1897) that branch of the Freeman’s had moved nearer to London, presumably in search of work, as so many of them did in the late 1800’s.

I’m in touch with a third cousin Audrey who was Clara’s niece and you might remember her as she spent a lot of time at Clara and William’s farm? I know that as well as taking in lots of evacuees they also fostered three brothers and when I visited Brent Pelham church last summer I bumped into one of them who was also looking around the church I think his name was Jeff? I was there researching my Brett ancestors, Ann Brett (my Gt. Grandmother) was born in Brent Pelham in 1866.

With best wishes

Lyndsey