Warwickshire News Mine

The county council service is holding a number of informative events throughout September using their Second World War collections. All events take place at Warwickshire County Record Office, Priory Park, off Cape Road, Warwick. 

Make Do and Mend, takes place on Wednesday 15 September from 7pm to 9pm and costs £5. Maggie Wood, Keeper of Social History for the Warwickshire Museum Service, will lead the session which looks at the imaginative ways people responded to rationing and shortages during World War II.

Related records from this time will also be available for participants to view to help them understand more about wartime life.

For those with an interest in researching family members who were involved in the military, Family History: Military Records on Saturday 25 September from 9.15am to 12.15pm will be a popular choice. 

This workshop is run by family historian Jennifer Cranfield, it looks at the types of military records available to the family historian and how to access them and participation costs £12.00.

The last event of the series reminds us that not everything of historical importance is always held in museums and archives.  Shirley’s War is held on Monday 27 September from 2pm to 4pm and is £5 to attend. 

Shirley Davies, now President of Wootton Wawen Women’s Institute, gives a very personal account of her memories of wartime Britain, including memories of school, rationing, family life, evacuees and friendship. 

Personal wartime ephemera belonging to Record Office volunteers will also be on display, including parts from a Type X Rotor (the British version of the ‘Enigma’ machine) and a Merlin engine magneto from a Spitfire engine. 

Rowan Fisher, Learning and Outreach Officer at Warwickshire County Record Office, said: “We have an interesting collection of World War Two records, including photographs of a Spitfire paid for by Atherstone Rural District Council and accounts in school log books of what life was like for evacuees. 

"We hope that our programme of events this September will prove to be stimulating and enjoyable.”

Booking for each event is strongly recommended, by calling 01926 738959 Tuesday to Saturday. 

Visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/countyrecordoffice for more information on general opening times, directions and other useful information.

Link to WCC