Days of war to be marked by society (From Gazette Series)

Days of war to be marked by society

A PROJECT to remember life during the war years in a rural market town has been jointly launched by two historical organisations.

After receiving National Lottery funding to buy a digital voice recorder, Wotton-under-Edge Historical Society and the town's Heritage Centre plan to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War by recording memories of the Home Front.

Heritage centre volunteer Mary George said: "Through recording the experiences of those who lived in and around Wotton during the war years, we hope to be able to build up a picture of how much the lives of local people changed - or stayed the same.

"We will be able to gain greater understanding and insight into what war really meant for a small town like Wotton, bringing colour and life to wartime experience of real people."

The groups are looking for people to take part in the project and would like to hear from people who lived in the area between 1939 and 1945.

Anyone wanting to take part in the project is asked to call Jo Williams on 01453 521541.

Mrs George added: "It is vital that the impact of war on everyday lives is remembered, if not fully understood. By contributing to this project people will be providing an essential service to the town, helping to preserve an important part of history."

* The project coincides with a display being shown at the Heritage Centre in The Chipping called The Home Front in Wotton - 1939-1945. The display includes memories of the ARP, Home Guard, visits from Queen Mary, the Red Cross depot, evacuees and much more. The display also details the different groups which came to the town, either to escape from foreign countries or to work in the area. The display will be open until November.

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