Another photo from the National Memorial Arboretum – this is part of the ‘Every Which Way’ sculpture by Maurice Blik, to remember the millions of British children evacuated from cities and separated from their families during WWII (1939-1945), commissioned by The British Evacuees Association.

There are many wonderful, thought-provoking memorials and sculptures at the arboretum, but this one of nice young children, dressed in their Sunday best, looking slightly dishevelled and lost, held my attention for a long time. It’s a beautiful piece of work, with so much movement and animation that I could almost believe that it comes to life when the visitors have gone, with the children searching the ground for calm, comfort and their loving families. Particularly the teddy bear being clutched tightly by his little girl, her small bundle of love, home, and normality that she could take with her, just brought it all to reality and I could hear the sounds, smells and fear that they must have experienced.