Former Lowestoft Wartime Evacuees are invited to their annual Summer Reunion which will take place at the town’s railway station on Saturday, 6 June 2026.
The event, for former evacuees and family members is a chance to catch up and reminisce about their experiences 86 years since over 3000 school children and their teachers were evacuated by rail from Lowestoft to Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, away from the imminent threat of bombing and invasion.
Over 600 of those evacuated found safety in and around the High Peak town of Glossop, with the memories made and links formed between the two communities all those years ago still celebrated today.
This year, the story of Lowestoft’s Wartime Evacuees has featured in two television programmes, in January, Britain’s Favourite Railway Stations, broadcast on More 4, saw presenter Siddy Holloway hear from former evacuees about their experiences, followed a few weeks ago by The One Show on BBC television, which took some of Lowestoft’s former evacuees back to Glossop and included a visit to the original homes in which they stayed.
The reunion event this year will have two very special guests, Martin Impey, multi-award-winning writer, artist & illustrator who’s passion for wartime history was featured in the recent BBC One Show broadcast, and Neil Williams, Chair of the Friends of Glossop Station, who has worked for many years to both preserve and celebrate the evacuees story and maintain the connections between the two towns made over 85 years ago.
Martin Impey is best known for his books (mostly for Children) based on WW1 & WW2 – His latest book, the No 1 Best Seller ‘BLITZ One Family’s War’ was featured on BBC’s The One Show as part of their special VE DAY 80 programme last May and, more recently, he was seen on The One Show again following his research on Evacuees to Glossop for the sequel to Blitz – the much anticipated ‘EVACUEES One Family’s War’.
Top image and above: The First of the 600 Glossop – Lowestoft Evacuees arrival, illustration by Martin Impey, courtesy Martin Impey
His latest book is a continuation of the (brother & sister) Tom & Hatty’s experiences as they leave the nightly air raids and dangers of the East End for a safer life in the Country. ‘BLITZ One Family’s War’ won The Historical Association – YOUNG QUILLS AWARD and The English Association Best Book – Fiction, it was also short/longlisted for other Awards and was Nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration.
Neil Williams, Chair of the Friends of Glossop Station said, “I am so pleased that both our communities continue to cherish these important memories and that the friendships made are not only still celebrated but are now being retold for future generations. I am very much looking forward to attending the reunion event in Lowestoft and will bring news of Glossop and our work to maintain our connections with the Evacuees.”
Image above: Left, Former Lowestoft Evacuee Alma Mingay. Right, Neil Williams Chair of the Friends of Glossop Station, image courtesy Wherry Lines CRP
Development Officer at the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership, Martin Halliday added; “It is always a great privilege to host the reunion and to enable former Evacuees to meet up and reminisce about their time away. “Every year we learn even more about the incredible experiences of those connected with the evacuation.”
Commenting on his recent visit to Glossop retracing the footsteps of the 600 children from Lowestoft, Martin Impey said; “It was a joy to meet the 5 Evacuees while filming and an honour to hear their memories. It struck me how the people in the more rural parts of the country played their part and were so very important – taking in these children and keeping them safe… not forgetting the children themselves having to cope with this upheaval and relocation to strangers in a strange land. There is still a passion for this part of our collective history and the hard work of people like Neil and Martin keep these stories and experiences alive for the next generations!”
Each year the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and Lowestoft Central Project host the reunion event at Lowestoft station, the very location those evacuated departed from aboard a series of special trains in June 1940. In 2021 they installed two giant interpretation panels on the station concourse as a permanent reminder of the Lowestoft Schools Evacuation and like Lowestoft station, Glossop station also has a permanent history panel retelling the events of the evacuation. The Friends of Glossop station and the Wherry Lines have also collaborated to produce a free pamphlet about the evacuation which is available at both Lowestoft and Glossop stations.
All former Lowestoft wartime evacuees are welcome to attend the reunion which will include a complimentary afternoon tea, they can also bring a friend or family member with them. The event runs from midday to 3pm.
There is no need to book in advance for the event, however for more information please email: lowestoftcentral@gmail.com or call in at the Lowestoft station shop & tourist information office.