A WOMAN has returned to her war-time evacuation home in Boyton and reunited with a childhood friend to celebrate her 90th birthday.

In 1939, Joyce Ruddiman (now Morgan) arrived by train at Launceston Station from Peckham, aged four-and-a-half to escape the German bombing of London; she didn’t leave again until she was 10.

Now, 86 years since she first arrived, Joyce has returned to the area to meet an old friend.

When she arrived all those years ago, she was met by Bill Horrell, the billeting officer, and was brought back to Boyton Post Office where she made her home with Bill and Elizabeth Horrell and their children Betty, Reg and Agnes.

So upset, Betty slept with Joyce for the first month and it was thought she may have to be sent back to Peckham, however, six years later when it was time to return as the war was finally over, she wished she didn’t have to leave.

After her arrival, Joyce attended Boyton Church Hall for school where she was helped to integrate into this alien rural community, before later moving into Boyton Primary School.

Joyce recalls that the Land Army girls based in the camp at Boyton Bridge would come into the Post Office and in turn invited Elizabeth to bring the girls - Joyce, Agnes and Violet - down for film evenings. Though, the room was very smoky and the trio could hardly see the screen.

During her six years in Boyton, Joyce’s mother and granny would come down by train from Peckham to visit.

Joyce was the last evacuee to leave the village, however, she didn’t leave everything behind, when she returned to London she was teased mercilessly for her strong Cornish accent.

Upon her return to London, she had a new address after her family home had been completely destroyed in the blitz.

Joyce together with her late husband Fred, has stayed with Agnes and her late husband Terry, many times over the years, however, Joyce wouldn’t want to be anywhere else to mark such a special occasion.

To celebrate, more than 80 years later, Joyce was driven down from London by her son and daughter-in-law, eager to revisit the area she has such fond memories of.

She was all smiles visiting the places she remembered from 80 years prior as a small child.

During her visit, Joyce returned to Boyton Primary School, remembering how the school used to look; and after a question and answer session with the pupils in Chestnuts Class, was given a tour by headmistress Mrs. Davies. Mrs. Davies remarked that Joyce was the first evacuee she had ever met.

After their visit to the school, Joyce and Agnes stopped at the chapel, and even had their picture taken on the steps.

Finally, to round of the trip down memory lane, the pair paid a visit to The Old Post Office where Joyce and Agnes lived together from 1939 to 1945, marking the occasion with one final picture.