William was a lonely boy whilst living in London with his mother, but now in Little Weirwold everyone wants to be his friend. Later on in the novel William becomes close friends with Zach, the twins and George.
His background in London was not a happy one at all. His Mother was evidently not too kind to William. He lived in a very shabby part of London called Deptford; it was not a pleasant place to live ;
“Small dilapidated tenements stood huddled together in desperate need of care and attention.”
Little Weirwold had been a large change from this;
“The atmosphere in Little Weirwold is fresh and full of life, and everyone is friendly. William loves it there and a large change is changing him from a weak lonely little boy into a healthy friendly lively little boy.
Even the topic of conversation is different and more natural and open in Little Weirwold, everyone knows everyone else and they all look out for each other;
“I’m a little worried, what with her baby due so soon,” was the remark made by a villager in concern for Annie Hartridge the class teacher.
In London the topic of conversation is very stiff, and every-one is suspected of being a “German Spy”. People use phrases such as;
“bleedin’ saint”, “wot yer on abaht?”, “ I ‘ope ‘e ain’t a German spy, “Ya don’t ‘arf meet some queer uns ‘ere”. It is altogether a slightly unpleasant atmosphere, and the citizens are far from friendly.
But now William lives in a gorgeous village, where he is loved and away from the dark, smelly London and Deptford area. William starts school soon after arriving and is learning other facts of life elsewhere, everyday. On his first visit to the doctors, he is expecting meanness and when Dr. Little is so kind to him he suspects that he isn’t a proper doctor. This is because of his strange upbringing in London.
His school in Little Weirwold is one he finds very exciting. After the harshness of his old teacher Mr. Barrett he finds his new school like a haven. Instead of being a little nobody in a large school in Deptford, he now goes to a lovely little school where he has a wonderful teacher and is able to learn fast. He finds that he is able to learn fast. He finds that he is a very talented artist, and works hard on this newly found gift.
William is now a very healthy talented, friendly nine year old and is being brought up by a kindly, loving old man, Mr Oakley, who is later to become his foster father.
“I say you’ve lost your London accent,” says Zach. “This remark shows that William truly belongs in Little Weirwood now.
Jennifer Hardie-8H.