An enthralled audience recently heard 98-year-old Alec Penstone describe his early life at the start of the Second World War at a talk for the benefit of the Museum of Ryde. Alec told of starting work at the age of 14 and, living in Tottenham when War was declared, he immediately volunteered and joined the Air Raid Precaution, ARP. That was the prelude to the most fascinating life of adventure, risk, luck and survival. Alec’s memory is phenomenal, and the tales he recalled in the short time we had portrayed his stoic attitude to what he was faced with. The stories of his 1st ventures in the Navy and being sent to Scotland to join the Fleet that would convey supplies to the Russian forces in the Arctic were – to us today – harrowing. The event was held last week at Yelf’s Hotel in Ryde. Ryde Historic Society Chairman, Brian Harris said:
“For Alec to come and support the Museum of Ryde and give us an insight into life in those years is greatly appreciated and reinforces the history that the Museum has of exhibits of life in Ryde in the past. With so many more insights that Alec has, we hope to have him talk to us again in the New Year.”
Alec’s book, ‘My Ten and a Half Artic Convoys’ plus DVDs are available by emailing [email protected].
The artic convoys the temperature of the water meant if you went into the sea you had minutes to survive bravest of the brave
Thank you for your service, Alex Penstone — and thank you to the volunteers of the Ryde Historic Society!