Do you or your friends and family have a story to share?
In the Autumn 2020 edition of Third Age Matters, Trust Volunteer Carole Chapman (Portsdown U3A) described work with the Imperial War Museum to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and to make interesting digital resources on the topic available to older people who might otherwise have limited access to them.
In response to this article, several U3A members wrote in with fascinating stories about their recollections – or those of relatives – of the events of 1940-1941. It quickly became clear that there was a wealth of information out there that deserved preservation and a wider audience.
We hope that U3A members from across the UK will be inspired to contribute experiences to this collection of material.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING:
Do you have memories of the Battle of Britain and the Blitz?
Is there a family history that has been preserved, perhaps in documents or photographs?
If so, and you would like to share this, please either fill out our online form or contact Trust Volunteer Carole Chapman
We will publish a selection of the stories and experiences below. This page will be updated on an ongoing basis as we receive members’ stories.
Alison May, Learning Manager says “I have had the privilege of reading some fascinating accounts of people’s experiences. I have been struck by how people accepted this awful time and how they carried on in extreme circumstances. I am sure this will resonate with members who may have lived through this time, or been told about it by people who did. I hope you find these accounts as interesting and insightful as I have, and are motivated to contribute your experiences."
Stories are displayed by the date in which they were received
February 2021
Al Havenhand
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
Ray Oliver
Furness u3a
Barbara Wright
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
Tony Rees
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
Carol Dibden
Northwood & District u3a
photo credit: © IWM D 3101
Christine Hutchinson
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
Geoffrey Glover
Chalfonts u3a
Gladys Last
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
Muriel Brown
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
Robert Price
Harrow u3a
Ursula Adler
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
Snippets of memories
Various authors
(updated)
January 2021
Bernard Hetherington
Leith Estuary u3a
Peggy Atwood
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
Vera Barlow
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
photo credit: © IWM C 5424
Jonathan Clennell
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
Christine Davies
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
Pauline Grafton
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
photo credit: © IWM D 2100
Maurice Hindle
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
photo credit: © IWM D 21302
Moira Monteith
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
Ann Price
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
David Price
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
photo credit: © IWM D 3106
Deanne Markham
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
photo credit: © IWM CH 10850
Edgar John Wilcox (by Deanne Markham)
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
Ian Micklethwaite
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
photo credit: © IWM HU 128848
Shirley Mickelthwaite
Collected by Hope Valley u3a
photo credit: © IWM HU 128850
December 2020
Catherine Iliffe
Bradford u3a
Colin Lester
West Leicestershire u3a
Olive King
Bromley u3a
Peter Hayling
Castle Bromwich u3a
November 2020
Anne Sparkes
Wellington & District u3a
photo credit: © Museum of London
Jim Burns
Upholland & District u3a
Ken Arkell
Havant u3a
photo credit: © Museum of London
Stephanie Neal
Wallingford u3a
photo credit: The British Library
Anne Williams
Abergavenny u3a
Barbara Hallows
Chelmsford u3a
October 2020
David Dundas
Lichfield u3a
photo credit: © IWM D 1596
Michael Bennett
Bingham u3a
photo credit: © IWM Art.IWM PST 3773
Anonymous
Barnet u3a
Stuart Spencer
Exmouth & District u3a
photo credit: © PLA collection/Museum of London
Janet Maile
Orpington u3a
John Lloyd
Wearside u3a
photo credit: © IWM HU 128843
Tony Chapman
Orpington u3a
photo credit: © IWM HU 94177
Ted Gray
Hornsea and District u3a
Lyn Green
Ilkley & District u3a
Chris Rose
Heybridge u3a
Daphne Steel
Warminster u3a
Cec Harrold
Towcester u3a