The new website for a Monmouthshire village hall triggered a trip down memory lane for a wartime evacuee.

Harold Francis was evacuated from Folkstone in Kent to Gwehelog along with many of his friends.

"We were just boys. We were more excited than scared. It seemed like a holiday, going on a train was a big treat and when we arrived the place was lovely," he said.

Harold was one of many boys evacuated to the Monmouth area, which was an ideal location because it is rural yet accessible.

"I remember my parents had mixed feelings about sending us away. No-one wants to be parted from their children, but, because Folkestone was on the front line for invasion, most families chose to send their children to foster families in the relative safety of the countryside."

Parents recieved a form asking if they would like their children to be evacuated. They would fill this in with their children's details and wait to hear where they would be placed.

"My parents came to visit me for two days to meet my foster family and see where I was living. They were really pleased and had no worries for me whatsoever."

Gwehelog Village Hall was where all the refugee children were gathered and then handed out to their foster families.

"Gwehelog Hall was our first impression of our new life. Everyone was very friendly at the hall and we were not frightened in the least.

"Our teachers from Folkestone came with us so we were lucky enough to have some adult faces we knew, but everyone else was so friendly and cheerful.

"We arrived at the village by bus from Pontypool railway station. It must have been quite late as I remember it was almost dark at the time.

"The children were then allotted to their various foster parents and taken to their new homes."

"My brother, myself and one other boy were taken by a Miss Jenkins to her home at Birchgrove where we met her sister and brother.

"To us they seemed rather old, but looking back they were probably in their mid forties to fifties, we shall never know. I believe it is now called Birchgrove Manor."

Neil George, the present day secretary for Gwehelog Village Hall, said: "After the recent renovations at the hall, we are trying to make it a centre for the community, much as it was back in the 1940s.

"There are all kinds of activities available at the hall, it is available to hire and there are also music events organised."

On 23rd November the renowned Somerset group, Howdenjones (http://www.howdenjones.co.uk">www.howdenjones.co.uk) are playing at the hall.

For more details visit the website http://www.gwehelogvillagehall.co.uk">www.gwehelogvillagehall.co.uk or call Neil George on 07867 808090.