On Monday, 30th September 1940, a coach full of children was delivered to the Chapel School Room (behind the Methodist Chapel), where the WVS and others helped to place the children with the people who had offered homes to them. There were twenty two children in total from six schools in Willesden.  Ronald and Rita and siblings Joyce and Violet went to stay with families in Apethorpe and the remainder stayed in Woodnewton.  Where possible siblings were sent to the same family.

The Woodnewton families who opened up their houses to the children were: Mrs Glover (Ernest and William), Mrs Fitzjohn (Leslie, Stanley and Gladys), Mrs G Compton (Thomas and Ernest), Mrs Brown (Brian and Dennis), Mrs Hull (Stella and Vera), Mrs Sharman (Sheila, Joseph and Bridget), Mrs Brothers (Patricia),  Mrs Wells (Barbara and Margaret), Miss Barfield (Derek).

As the children attended the village Primary school whilst they were living in Woodnewton, the school had to employ an extra teacher, Miss Driver, as school numbers doubled.  At the back of the school was a lovely grass paddock for playtime and games etc. The village men dug down in the ground to make an underground shelter in case of falling bombs.