Welsh Journals

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In the Rhyl area three main problems caused by the war can be seen. Firstly, there was the large influx of evacuees, both official and unofficial, and the difficulties especially those of school accommodation caused by these. Secondly, there were the effects on staffing, both teaching and ancillary, and the inroads on teaching time became of additional duties imposed by war-time conditions. And thirdly, there was the disturbance of the routine and daily life of the schools caused by various interruptions, from air-raid warnings to gas-mask drill. Even before war was declared meetings had been held in the Rhyl area to discuss the evacuee problem. An article in the Rhyl Journal of 2 September 1939 reports a special meeting of the Dyserth Parish Council to make the arrangements to receive Liverpool evacuees: Mr. Peter Roberts, chairman, said that the clouds of war were densely black and it was our bounden duty to prepare for the threatening storm. The parish would have to find shelter for 600. It is hoped that compulsory powers will not have to be exercised'. An Evacuees Reception Com- mittee was formed of members of the Parish Council, local members of the R.D.C. and County Council representatives, plus assistant billeting officers. The article continues: There was a meeting at school on Tuesday to hear the scheme explained and make arrangements for reception. 608 children would have to be accommodated 300 secondary school children, 30 adult helpers, 275 mothers and children under 5. Unaccompanied children would be provided with both board and lodging, payment being 10/6 for one child, and 8/6 per week per child when more than one was taken. Adults and mothers and children are to be provided with shelter only, payment being 5/- per mother and 3/- each child. Any residents having a grievance against allocation have the right to appeal to a tribunal to be set up for the purpose'. According to the arrangements of the time, evacuees were to arrive on the third and fourth days of war. It was decided to provide tea on arrival. It was realised that the arrival of these evacuees would cause problems in the area. The Rhyl Journal of 9 September reports: 'At a Flintshire Education Committee meeting at Mold on Wednesday, a member suggested it would be advisable to adopt a relay system of teaching. The Director, Mr. J. Bevan Evans, said that according to Board of Education figures, schools could accommodate evacuees in addition to children normally attending. The relay system, he added, was unde- sirable for various reasons. Alderman Waterhouse, who moved that a special committee be appointed to deal with all emergency school questions, contended that in some places the double shift system was essential.' Indeed it soon became obvious that the problem of school accommodation was going to be a difficult one in the Rhyl area. This was greatly aggravated by the arrival of considerable numbers of unofficial or private evacuees to complicate the issue, for they appeared to come and go at will. School log book entries of the time indicate the difficulties that were encountered.