A lecture about the Second World War as seen through the eyes of children was the basis for the July meeting of the Society, which was also one of the Society’s contributions to this year’s Chepstow Festival, as well as part of the celebration of its 60th anniversary.

The lecture, which was given by Historian Juliet Gardiner and entitled “The Children’s War”, was based on her book of the same name that was composed as companion to the exhibition at the Imperial War Museum. After her introduction by the Chairman, David Barber, she congratulated the Society on its sixty years and pointed out that it’s 1948 formation had been an act of faith in a period of extreme austerity when rationing and restrictions were in many ways worse than the war years and followed the winter of 1947 when the economy of the country was truly in a parlous condition.

During the evening she took the members back to the days of rationing, evacuation, bombing, shortages, make do and mend, shelters and tragedy. This was all spoken of as if through the eyes of children of the time, who were as brave and suffered as much or more than any other section of the community in those six years.

Her illustrations took those present straight back to a time of blackout, steam trains, nurseries, working mothers, absent fathers, bombsites and the Blitz. She ended by reminding everyone that the effects of those years are actually still with us to this day.  The evening ended with a vote of thanks, which was given by Annie Rainsbury, the curator of Chepstow Museum, for a lecture that was enjoyed by all.

The next meeting of the Society will take place at the Drill Hall on Wednesday, September 17th when the talk will be given by David Davies, MP on a “Day in the Life of ——”. As always everyone is welcome.