b'Conversations with Ken Sissons in 2001Mike PrattThe late Ken Sissons helped with preparation for the Evacuee Day in July 2001 by sharing his memories of the war years. Notes of conversations with him on 19th April and 24th June 2001 have been used to produce the article that follows.a plate on the side of the caravan with Mary Jane Sissons on it. After she died, on 27th January1945 at the age of 85, the van was dismantled; the rully was used on the farm. Ken was born in Mill House as was his father before him. His father kept cows, a horse, pigs, hens, ducks and geese. Ken explained that evidence of the former mill houses millwheel can still be seen on the left hand wall of the house as indentations caused by constant wear.Originally there was only the front door, and four rooms. Coal used to be kept under the stairs, and had to be delivered through the front door as the house was built into the bank with both sides being built up. Ken said that electricity came to Bishop Wilton in 1935-7; Ken himself fitted it to Mill House in 1948. He had served his electricians apprenticeship in Pocklington from the age of 14 to 21, starting at 15 shillings a week.Ken recalled snippets of memories: the old men sitting yarning on the bench on the bridge; the fact that Joan Cook (later Goy) used to look after him when he was small; that his cousin, Jim Sissons, used to live at the farm which is now Rexs house at No. 40.Ken remembered that Flat Top which was then With the back-drop of Flat Top House: Ken (onBeechwood Farm used to be farmed by the Steads:the left) meets former evacuee, Billy King (centre)Isaac and Rebecca, who had 3 sons called Ernest, and his wife, Queenie, in the grounds of the villageWilliam and Roland. Kens father lodged with them school on Evacuee Day in 2001. before coming back to live at Mill House.Ken was able to name a number of evacuees: K ens extremely good memory is demonstratedBobby Treweek, from Hull [who is in the school by something that the late Lily Preen (ne Pay), aregister] who stayed with Mrs Drury, with another former evacuee, told us when we interviewed her inevacuee, Malcolm East; Gordon Mann from Hull who 2001. In later life she visited Bishop Wilton with herstayed in one of the black houses [which used to be family to walk around and reminisce. Passing Kenson the back lane behind Nos 34 to 37], possibly with garden (which was very exposed to the comings andhis Grandad. Grace Johnson also stayed in one of goings of people on the main street) she caught Kensblack houses and someone called Duffy came to work attention and he ambled over to the fence and said,at Cliff Farm as part of a scheme for lads who were I know who you are! He recognised her without anytoo young to go into the Army. prompting even after the passing of many years. Ken knew that Betty Wharrie, from Hull, who We showed Ken the interview we had done withstayed with Mrs Pottage (Jean Rexs mother) in the Hilda Duffy (ne Dent) from Sunderland in which shetop end Council House, died of cancer about 20 years recalled there being a caravan outside Mill Houseago. during the war and he confirmed that his grandmother,Talking of village residents: Major Swain lived at Mary Jane Sissons, lived in it as the house was prettyMary Rowlays, before her and her mother, then he full (see photograph on following page). Ken was livinghad a bungalow built in the back lane [still called Lal there with his mother and father plus 3 older sisters,Koor, where Gordon Foster lives] and moved about and 1 younger brother. Eventually the caravan was1937, certainly pre-war; Miss Clara Foster kept a moved to a site at the rear of the house after therelittle shop near school [now part of Mr & Mrs Stan was some objection to it being at the front. There wasRobinsons at No 83]. There were 3 Foster sisters: 372 BULLETIN 19'