Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War seventy-five children who had been evacuated from London to Exmouth came by train, with their teachers, to visit Exeter. They were from Lambeth and Waterloo and they were, says a report in the Express and Echo, (Wednesday 27th March 1940) "thrilled at the prospect of seeing ancient buildings and of having history combined with holiday."
Their schedule was a demanding one. They started with a tour of St Nicholas Priory. Their guide there was the Curator , at that time a Miss Upright. I feel sure she lived up to her name. Next, the Bishop of Crediton, no less, took them round the Cathedral and they were then given lunch in the Cathedral Rest Rooms. Thence they were taken to the Guildhall where Mace-Sergeant W.E. Lovick showed them the Cap of Maintenance and the Sword of State and talked to them about the hall, the city regalia and the famous paintings on the walls. After this they were let loose in Rougemont and Northernhay where "they made Athelstan's Tower resound with Cockney accents."
I read this report with a curious feeling of loss. No doubt the reality of a party so large of children so young was as chaotic then as it would be today but the impression I received was of an England where children were actually interested in their nation's history and where good citizens were willing and able to show and share the city's glories and to demonstrate their own civic pride.
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