During World War 2 evacuees came to Harlaston. Some stayed a short time, others stayed much longer making Harlaston their home.
One evacuee family were the Rayners who lived for a while in an old unused barn in the middle of a field on Fishpits Farm. Gradually they made the barn a habitable home. Unfortunately, not long after they moved to Harlaston, Mr Rayner died. Later, Mrs Rayner married the local farmer Mr Jack Pennington. Their son, Maurice, lived in Harlaston until he got married, returning to bring up his family with his wife Val.
Margaret Rayner moved to Cannock.
John and Jean Lewis came from Liverpool to live with their aunts (the three Miss Lewises) after the war Jean moved home, but John stayed and made his home locally.