To the Jarman sisters, whose stories of their childhood evacuation have been passed down the family over the generations. Thanks for answering my many questions and for the use of photographs, the supplying of tea and for coping admirably with lights, camera, action.
Mary’s memoirs, compiled by her eldest daughter Anne, helped inspire this book and proved to be invaluable. The family genealogy that my cousin Richard (Anne, the youngest Jarman sister’s, eldest son) drew up some years ago was an excellent source of reference.
Thank you to my agent, Diane Banks, who took an interest in my writing; to Robyn Drury for her great support and considerable help in shaping the book; to Andrea Henry at Transworld for her enthusiasm and editorial skill; and to Becky White for her remarkable attention to detail.
A big thank you to my wife, who helped me with just about everything. And to Pierce and Annie for giving birth to six girls.