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| Guernsey evacuees to unveil plaque in Derbyshire | Guernsey evacuees to unveil plaque in Derbyshire |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| World War Two evacuees who left Guernsey in 1940 have unveiled a plaque in Derbyshire marking the 70th anniversary of the island's liberation. | |
| About 650 schoolboys from Elizabeth College lived in the county during the occupation of the Channel Islands. | About 650 schoolboys from Elizabeth College lived in the county during the occupation of the Channel Islands. |
| Rob Champion, 85, was one of them and gave a reading at the service at Tideswell Church. | |
| Mr Champion said it had been tough as he had little contact with his parents but his time in Derbyshire was special. | Mr Champion said it had been tough as he had little contact with his parents but his time in Derbyshire was special. |
| The 85-year-old was one of about 4,000 schoolchildren who left the island following the collapse of France. | The 85-year-old was one of about 4,000 schoolchildren who left the island following the collapse of France. |
| "It was quite an upheaval," he said. "[But] when you're 10-years-old you don't really understand the implications... it was an exciting time actually. I have very special memories. | |
| "It was tough but we had a happy time [in Buxton]." | "It was tough but we had a happy time [in Buxton]." |
| Children had little contact with their parents apart from a telegram of 25 words sent with the help of the Red Cross, every few months. | Children had little contact with their parents apart from a telegram of 25 words sent with the help of the Red Cross, every few months. |
| Mr Champion gave the address that was made by his former headmaster in the pupils' final assembly before they made the journey to England. | |
| Bruce Parker, a former BBC Antiques Roadshow presenter and teacher at Elizabeth College, was also at the service. | |
| He said: "The government decided they couldn't defend the island so plans were hurriedly made to get the school population off the island immediately. | He said: "The government decided they couldn't defend the island so plans were hurriedly made to get the school population off the island immediately. |
| "The boys were lucky enough to be taken in or around Buxton and there they stayed for five years." | "The boys were lucky enough to be taken in or around Buxton and there they stayed for five years." |
| "[The people of Guernsey] have always been grateful for what the people of Derbyshire did for them and this weekend is a chance to express that." | "[The people of Guernsey] have always been grateful for what the people of Derbyshire did for them and this weekend is a chance to express that." |
| The stone plaque was unveiled at Tideswell Church, where the college held its main services from 1940-45. |