Life at Moss House Farm during World War II

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Growing up on a farm in war torn Britain during World War II was difficult enough, but Bill Sherratt like many others who lived in the countryside had to welcome evacuees into their home.

Once the Germans had started to bomb industrialised cities people, especially children, had to move to the relative safety of the countryside. On 31^st August 1939 “Evacuate Forthwith” was ordered, within the first four days nearly 3,000,000 people had been transported out of urban areas.

Bill, 78 who lived at Moss House Farm, Endon in Staffordshire, welcomed the Prince family from Stoke into their home.

He said: “I was outside in the yard and a car stopped and asked if I knew anywhere where they could stay. I answered with I’ll go and get my mum and she said they could stop with us.

“Their neighbours house had been bombed to the ground in the night and I think it scared them and the next day they turned up at the farm.”

Not only did Bill’s mum and dad welcome the Prince family into their home, they also had their nephew Denis Johnson living with them from Manchester.

Bill continued: “You didn’t think anything of it, but my mum, dad, me and Dennis all slept in the same room downstairs and the Prince family did the same upstairs.

“They were quite a wealthy family who owned a shop in Stoke and they had their own plane. As they had their own shop which they went back to everyday, we never went without food; they made sure we had enough as a way to repay my mum and dad.”

The Prince family stayed at the Sherratt household for 18 month and their house had survived the bombing raids.

Bill admits hearing the sounds coming from the city scared him every night: “You could hear them bombing the potteries every night and it lit the sky when they exploded.”

The Bird in Hand

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Cheadle turns into Tinsel Town

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Cheadle turned into Tinsel Town on Saturday 4^th December when Town Mayor Ian Whitehouse switched on the Christmas lights in a Hollywood themed extravaganza.

People of all ages turned up for the event and made the most of the entertainment on show. This ranged from stilt walkers and clowns to guide stalls and a Santa’s grotto. There were also competitions available to take part in; the most entered being the fancy dress competition.

Ian Whitehouse said: “I’ve never seen so many people in the high street it really makes me proud to represent Cheadle with a full market place, stalls and entertainers lining the high street, shop keepers in their Hollywood costumes.

“It was a brilliant afternoon, a well done goes to the Cheadle Business Group for all their hard work for organising and making it an event not to be missed.”

The event took place between 2pm to 7pm and the council suspended pay and display charges for the day, to try and attract more people.

Councillor Edwin Wain, portfolio holder for planning, development and property, told the Sentinel: “The free parking and car park closures cost us about £800 at a time when we face significant financial challenges, but we recognise the switching on of the lights is important to our town centre retail economies.

“We think it is important to bring people together and give our independent high street shops a boost in difficult economic conditions.”

Traders welcomed this move on one of the busiest days of the year in the town as they say their taking double when it’s free parking.

One visitor Amy Carnwell from Kingsley Moor said: “It’s fabulous to see so many people out enjoying what’s on, especially the youngsters.

“The organiser have done really well as there is something for everyone here.”