THE LATEST talk in Redditch History Society’s annual programme takes place this Monday, September 8, and focuses on the Second World War.
‘Redditch 1939 to 1945 – Our War Effort’ will be the first presentation after the summer break and takes place at 2pm at the Oasis Christian Centre on the corner of Plymouth Road – near the town’s bus and railway stations.
The talk is being fittingly given in the 80th anniversary year of the end of the Second World War and in the past months, both VE Day 80 and VJ Day 80 have been commemorated.
The presentation will be delivered by the history society’s secretary Anthony Green, who was born in 1943 and so lived through the end of the conflict.
Tony will describe how Redditch, then a small town, contributed to almost every aspect of the war effort.
He will detail the existing Redditch industries and the new industries and influx of factory workers brought in specifically to bolster this expansion.
Other subjects covered will include the Home Guard and the defence of Worcestershire, the bombing in Redditch, food production, land girls and ‘digging for Britain’, along with evacuees who arrived from Birmingham.
The talk will culminate in descriptions of the celebrations following the end of the war and with reflection on how much Redditch achieved and th fact its efforts should justifiably be regarded with pride.
The society said it promised to be a memorable afternoon.
The society meets from 2pm to 4pm on the second Monday of every month.
Non-members are always welcome for a £4 entrance fee and refreshments are available after the talk for just 50p per person.
The meeting next month – on October 13 – will feature a talk by Chris Jackson on ‘Early postcards of Redditch Town Centre and the Postal History’
Visit: redditchhistorysociety.org.uk or check out the leaflet, available at Redditch Library and The Palace Theatre, for more on the Redditch History Society’s latest series of talks.
