During the Second World War years there was a critical need for Britain to find ways to be self-sufficient in terms of food. With enemy blockades around our shores many of the goods that were usually imported were unable to reach us. By January 1941 the usual food supply coming from overseas had fallen byContinueContinue reading “Feeding the nation”
Category Archives: history
More than housework
With most men of working age being called up to fight during the Second World War there were numerous industries that found themselves in desperate need of people to fill the vacancies. As a result women stepped out of the home into the workplace. Of course, prior to 1939, some women had taken up employment,ContinueContinue reading “More than housework”
No place like home
After the euphoria felt when the Second World War finally ended, the country was confronted by the challenge of enabling families across Britain to return to something resembling a normal life. When the new Labour government was elected in 1945 they had a whole host of problems to tackle, all needing urgent resolution. One ofContinueContinue reading “No place like home”
The voice of the people
If you are fascinated by social history, as am I, then having a chance to listen to people’s voices from past decades is more than enlightening – it’s inspiring. Such must have been the thinking behind a social research project, initiated in 1937, called the Mass Observation Project. Three former students from Cambridge University -ContinueContinue reading “The voice of the people”
Rebuilding communities
1945. After six years of war Britain had suffered in so many ways. A generation of men had been lost to the fighting, few towns and cities had escaped bombardment and the country was in debt to the tune of billions. So where to start? Britain and its Allies had ‘won’ the war, but atContinueContinue reading “Rebuilding communities”
Expanding horizons
Prior to the Second World War millions of British people had rarely strayed far from their hometown. Travel was expensive. There was just one commercial airline offering to take passengers to far-flung countries, such as South Africa, India, Australia and the Far East. But the cost was something that only wealthy businessmen or colonial administratorsContinueContinue reading “Expanding horizons”
A life-saving miracle
It’s hard to imagine a world without the life-saving antibiotic, penicillin. Yet, it was only around a hundred years ago that Alexander Fleming first realised its importance. During the First World War Fleming realised the use of antiseptics was not preventing infections, particularly in deep wounds. And it was a lucky accident in 1928 thatContinueContinue reading “A life-saving miracle”
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