Aged only 5 years old, Reg was evacuated to Peterborough with his sister Elsie to escape the bombing of London during the Blitz. He stayed with the Rice family - Mrs Rice was an English teacher and he credited her throughout his life for his excellent spelling and punctuation! (Which is sadly not passed on genetically!). Whilst staying in Peterborough he had a close brush with death when he contracted Diphtheria. He made a full recovery and enjoyed a further 70 years of robust good health.