WAR may have been raging, but there was still time for a party.

The men standing at the back decided in 1941 to entertain some of the thousands of young evacuees who were staying in Oxford.

The picture comes from Jayne Saberton-Haynes, of Crescent Road, Cowley, whose great uncle Fred Kirby and grandfather Jack Kirby were among the organisers. Uncle Fred is the man second from the left in the braces and grandfather Jack is standing next to him, third from the left.

We don’t know what occasion was being celebrated, but we know the party was held in George Street, where Jack ran a snack bar.

It is thought the other men were fellow tradesmen in the street or suppliers. The man second from the right may have been the manager of the New Theatre, possibly one of the Dorrill family. 

Mrs Saberton-Haynes recognises three other relatives in the picture – her great grandmother Isabella Martin pictured on the extreme left, and her mother Dorothy Kirby and aunt Beryl Kirby, just to her left.

The families of both Jack and Fred had been living in London and joined the thousands of evacuees who came to Oxford to escape the Blitz.

The evacuation had begun on Friday, September 1, 1940, two days before war was declared. The first train, carrying 600 of the 16,000 children expected, arrived at Oxford’s Great Western Railway station just after 10am. 

The Oxford Mail reported: “As the train steamed in, children leaned from the carriage windows and waved their hands and handkerchiefs, and a cheer went up as the train came to a standstill.

“Carriage doors were flung open and in a few minutes, the platform was invaded by the youngsters.

“Later, they formed into columns of four and were taken to the waiting buses, for transport to the distribution centre, SS Mary and John School. The children, apart from a few who were a little sad and had obviously been crying, were laughing and excited as they learned that this was their journey’s end.

“Some had their belongings wrapped in pillow cases, others in home-made rucksacks, haversacks and in suitcases.”

Further trains arrived later in the day and more on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. 

Organisers in charge of the massive operation were pleased how smoothly it had gone and thanked families who had welcomed evacuees into their homes.

Many evacuees were also billeted in many county towns and villages.
Can anyone identify the children and the unnamed men at the back? Write and let me know.