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BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
WW2 children mark 85 years since evacuation from Essex
Former child evacuees who are now in their 90s have attended an 85th anniversary event to mark the day they hopped on a train from east to west England during World War Two. Harwich Town Station was the venue to mark their evacuation from Harwich and Dovercourt in Essex, when children were moved from urban areas that could be targets for bombing by 2 May 1940, some 1,200 local schoolchildren and 77 teachers had a 10-hour train journey with the promise of Edgar, 93, was eight years old when she was evacuated to Eyton in Herefordshire where she said she "loved" living on a farm. Ms Edgar said she gave her mum a kiss before getting the train. She returned home four years later aged day of the evacuation had a normal start."We just went to school as normal with our little case and gas masks," she said."And then we had to all march down the main road to Dovercourt station. "I remember her kissing me goodbye, but I can't remember if that was before we left or at the school. But they weren't allowed to come with us."On the way across country, she said it was a very hot day and she was wearing a big winter coat because thick clothes would have been too heavy for the children to carry. John Durrant, 96, was evacuated from Wrabness, just along the railway line west of Harwich. He was 11 when he was sent to Gloucestershire and said: "I knew what was happening; I knew the war was on;, I heard sirens at night."I didn't really want to go, but we were all shoved on."Mr Durrant said he found a way to get home to Essex after he overheard that the port had been bombed and wanted to check to see if his parents were he returned, he realised his parents were unscathed."I was at a very impressionable age at the time. I knew the dangers, I knew we were being sent to a safe place," he added. David Whittle, curator of Harwich Museum, put the event together alongside Steve Delves, assistant Whittle said the children were at real risk and added: "Harwich could have been invaded, this was just after Dunkirk."It was imperative that the children left."This port is the closest port to Germany and therefore there could have been an invasion. It could have been vessels coming in and out."They might have bombed the harbour."After the journey, Mr Whittle said the children then had the ordeal of being picked by a prospective foster parent. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Associated Press
10-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
FIS Named a Leader in 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Retail Core Banking Systems, North America
FIS ® (NYSE: FIS), a global leader in financial technology, has been recognized by Gartner as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Retail Core Banking Systems, North America. This recognition further demonstrates FIS' comprehensive capabilities across the money lifecycle, underscoring its position as the leading technology provider in the banking ecosystem for safeguarding money at rest. FIS' core banking solutions operate within a widely configurable and connected banking ecosystem that can enable financial institutions to deliver seamless customer experiences across all channels. This allows customers to unlock the money lifecycle from a single platform, elevating the full banking experience and creating a more streamlined and agile environment. The Gartner report evaluated products based on ability to execute and completeness of vision. The three FIS products recognized include: HORIZON: Received one of the highest customer experience ratings among all vendors and demonstrated above-average API marketplace capabilities that created a more streamlined integration for users while enabling improved collaboration for banks launching new business lines. Integrated Banking Solution (IBS): Earned one of the highest business functionality scores compared to all other vendors for its ability to unlock efficiencies for new business functionalities and also earned high marks for holistic product support, customer-centric servicing and innovative release strategy. Modern Banking Platform: Recognized for its strength in native composable and cloud architecture, along with the capabilities to enable secure integration and collaboration between FIS and third-party partners that can quickly create new user experiences across the money lifecycle. 'FIS' positioning in the 'Leaders' and 'Visionaries' quadrants reinforces our dedication to providing the most innovative core banking solutions to our clients,' said John Durrant, co-president, FIS Banking Solutions. 'With FIS' open API technology, institutions can securely manage money at rest while unlocking a thriving banking and payments ecosystem through a flexible platform. This enables our customers to see greater efficiency, quickly launch competitive products and cement relationships with personalized experiences.' The Gartner Magic Quadrant for Retail Core Banking Systems, North America highlights certain key market trends shaping the core banking industry. Vendor evaluation is based on the 'Ability to Execute' and 'Completeness of Vision.' The criteria for 'Completeness of Vision' are based on the effectiveness of vendor product strategies linked to the market. The criteria for the 'Ability to Execute' focuses on market traction and how the vendor and product are positioned to sustain support for near-term banking market requirements and commitments. FIS is a financial technology company providing solutions to financial institutions, businesses and developers. We unlock financial technology to the world across the money lifecycle underpinning the world's financial system. Our people are dedicated to advancing the way the world pays, banks and invests, by helping our clients to confidently run, grow and protect their businesses. Our expertise comes from decades of experience helping financial institutions and businesses of all sizes adapt to meet the needs of their customers by harnessing where reliability meets innovation in financial technology. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, FIS is a member of the Fortune 500® and the Standard & Poor's 500® Index. To learn more, visit Follow FIS on LinkedIn, Facebook and X. Kim Snider, 904.438.6278 Senior Vice President FIS Global Marketing and Communications SOURCE: Fidelity National Information Services Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 02/10/2025 02:00 PM/DISC: 02/10/2025 02:02 PM
