Sisters, Gillian Morton and Maureen Armstrong, seen above with club president Jay, reminded some of us of our lives some 80 years ago in days so different to those we live in today.
Food was in short supply, men too! Most of them had gone to fight a war against tyrant dictators who wanted to rule the world. Women now worked in previously men=orientated industries to ensure the country continued to function, and particularly to ensure that factories continued to produce arms for our military.
In the cities children were almost a rare sight as most had been sent to towns and villages in the countryside to escape the heavy bombing by the German luftwaffe. They spent months, or even years, living away from their families and, after the war most returned home with many happy memories.
At it's worst most dreaded to hear the knock on the door where a policeman nerviously waited to divulge the terrible news that husband, father or brother was either missing in action presumed dead or confirmed dead. And no, it was not just brave men who perished but many service women and those who were bombed at work or at home. We were reminded of life in air-raid shelters, the black-out, food, clothes, fuel, in fact most things we bought in shops were either no longer available or strictly rationed.
Some music halls remained open, pubs still functioned and were the heart and soul of most neighourhoods where, during lulls in the fighting, people enjoyed relieving the tension in pub games, sing-song and dancing.
The war, which lasted 6 years in europe and several more in other parts of the world, affected most families in the UK. Most lost a son or daughter, many children never knew their fathers or other close relatives, and the survivors came home to meet their young families for the first time.
Many thanks Gillian and Maureen for reminding us of those hard days behind us, how we comforted and supported each other and your lovely reminiscences which were often less black then this report may suggest.