Greetings all With recent reference to the Channel Isles there was a small island which the Germans did not bother occupying. General de Gaulle sent out a message to the French people asking all men who could get away to come to England to join the Free French. A TV programme, either 'Coastline' or Martin Clune's 'Islands of Britain', went to the island when they did a segment on the Channel Islands and met some of the islanders who were involved. Cornwall is a strong connection because, according to the programme, the men got into their fishing boats and sailed all the way to Penzance. For many years I wondered at the reason for me joining a school-children's choir to go to Penzance railway station and sing the Marseillaise - in French! When I saw the TV programme the penny dropped! One of de Gaulles off-siders was coming down to Penzance to meet these men who had escaped from France! No-one knew the story at the time, of course, all very hush-hush, but there were a lot of French refugees at the station, many were fishermen who had piled their families and furniture on to their boats and sailed the familiar route to Penzance and Newlyn. I imagine there are many such stories around. If only someone could gather them together what a marvellous history of endeavour they would make! Cheers Pat