D-DAY REMEMBERED BY ALL GENERATIONS AT WELLOW INSTITUTE

The 80th anniversary of D-Day was commemorated at an intergenerational event at Wellow Institute on Thursday, 6th June. The sound of an air raid siren rang out from Wellow Institute when children from Shalfleet CE Primary School arrived. The siren belongs to Gavin Scovell, whose grandfather, John, lived in the village and was a member of the Home Guard and an Auxilier, member of the Secret Army. After a demonstration, there was a queue of enthusiastic volunteers to try sounding the siren. There was more ‘living history’ for the children, as Newbridge resident, Chloe Sutherland, brought in spent bullets, sad reminders of the Halifax bomber which crashed in 1942 killing the crew of s 6 Canadians. A village map, of houses in WWII, allowed the children to see how, even in a small village, the war involved everyone. The children sang wartime songs to visitors, including ‘We’ll meet again,’ and their favourite, ‘Maizey Doats and Dozy Doats’ remembered and suggested by Delia Whitehead, who was herself at school in WWII. There was a display of stories of local people’s war service, and a fine selection of cakes presented by members of Wellow Institute, enjoyed by all ages.