MR SYDNEY Savage writes: "On September 1, 1939, I, along with thousands of other children, was taken out of London to safer areas of England, pending the onset of war with Germany on September 3.

"My journey finally found me at Cambridge, where I was happily absorbed into school life.

"At the age of 14, I attended a careers meeting at the Cambridge school, and was told I would continue my education at the Northampton Polytechnic of London (now the City of London University) the department itself was evacuated to St Albans.

"Thus I came to St Albans in 1940 and was duly billeted with the Thomas family in Church Street.

"The poly was based at the grammar school in Brampton Road (now Verulam Road) where we were allowed to use the science block for lessons.

"Unfortunately, we didn't seem to get on with the grammar school, probably because of overcrowding, and thus St Albans School took us under its wing, for which I am eternally grateful.

"Our curriculum involved workshop technology, technical drawing, physics, chemistry and, of course, maths, English and sport.

"St Albans School allowed us to use the science block, a workshop at the back of the school whose entrance was in Fishpool Street, next to a two-bedroomed house which was used as classrooms for maths and so on.

"The house had originally been Dunhams, a straw hat factory.

"Our technical drawing took place at the art school in Victoria Street, now the Maltings Surgery, and our football at the Old Albanians ground on the Old Harpenden Road.

"Athletics and swimming were at the school sports ground on Belmont Hill, which I believe is now housing.

"St Albans School also invited us to attend many of their social functions.

"Thus I spent three happy years within the grounds of St Albans School, until I left at the age of 17 to return to London. But I couldn't stand life in London and returned to my original billet in St Albans."

Mr Savage ended up marrying the girl next door, Dolly Hill, in 1951, and has lived here ever since.