Talks for Adults

Upper Thames Patrol
The Upper Thames Patrol (the Home Guard Navy of WW2), a water born unit, was formed in 1939 to protect the river Thames (a natural stop line) in case of invasion in WW2.

Learn about the men and women who formed the UTP. Uncover the myth of the Dunkirk postage stamp. Listen to personal recollections and many amusing true stories. This presentation has approximately 180 original photos and 2 short films, all very rare,. Unfortunately very little information exists about the UTP in general and no books have been written about them, our talk is one of the most comprehensive collections to exist.

An interesting and entertaining talk. Probably more suited to a more male or mixed audience.

Please click here for more details about the UTP.

Wartime Children
Perhaps you were a child in WW2 and want to go down memory lane, or your parents were, or you may have an interest in history. This talk covers many aspects of life on the Home Front from a child’s point of view. Find out about air-raids, gas masks, life at home, schooltime, clothes, toys and games, evacuation, food rationing, national service and how children could help with the war effort. It is presented in an interesting way using PowerPoint with hundreds of original photographs, and music along with narration from us. It contains many surprising facts and surprises, very thought provoking talk.

Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) from 1938-1945
Over 1 million women volunteered with the WVS during the Second World War, it was the largest women’s voluntary force ever.  Why did the WVS start?  Who were the women who joined? The WVS were not just tea and sympathy, they often threw themselves into some surprising jobs, sometimes putting themselves into danger, keeping the country going in times of great hardship. The WVS became known as ‘The Army Hitler Forgot’.

They encompassed The Housewives Service, women who could not leave their homes for long periods of time or who were elderly.

This presentation includes over 350 original photographs music and an entertaining short film, we also include many references to the WI that worked closely along side the WVS.

WW2 Rationing & Cooking for Victory, A Fair Share for All
During this entertaining talk (using music, recordings, video and hundreds of original photographs) we talk about why rationing was necessary in WW2, how the rationing system worked, what was on ration and more importantly what foods were off ration.  Some surprising things the Ministry of Food tried to get the British public to eat, some definitely didn’t take off, others became firm favourites. Discover what it was like to eat out and find out how the British public kept the country going with the Dig for Victory campaign, keeping chickens, rabbits and pigs in their back gardens.

Would you like to taste 1940s recipes? We can provide samples of wartime food (Bread Pudding, Vinegar Cake, The National Loaf and mock banana, for your audience to taste for an extra fee of £30 to cover costs. This is optional, please specify if you would like food samples for the Rationing talk at the time of booking.

How the Brownies Helped Win the War
We take a brief look at how the war affected children in WW2.  

What girls had to do to join Brownies.  Could you pass the Golden Hand award aimed at girls aged 10-11 years old (we have only met 1 adult that could!)? Find out what they did to help towards the war effort, some very surprising things and what the Brownies did to help raise money. How Brownies secretly helped MI9, a secret Government department.

A interesting and popular talk particularity with history societies, something very different and unfortunately an almost forgotten part of history.

1940s Girl Guides
Why was Guiding so popular in the WW2?  What was the Tenderfoot Test and how did it start to prepare girls for war work? Learn about the Second Class test, badges and uniform. We look at special training the Guides had and the part they played in evacuation, emergency cooking, hospital work, and undercover work for MI9, the secret government department responsible for helping British POWs, French resistance and uncovering German spies. 

You will be amazed at the responsibility and resourcefulness of wartime Guides.

The talk/presentation includes hundreds of rare original photos, Wartime Girl Guides are know remembered as the forgotten Army, 750,000 in all.

1940s Boy Scouts
Why did the number of Scouts decline during the war?  Take a look at how the Scout training programme helped the Scouts with war work. Who were the Scout Messengers and hear some true life stories.

Learn about the very many jobs that were entrusted to Scouts. What part did Scouts plan in Churchill’s Secret Army?  With over 200 original photographs and heroic tales, this is a very educational and interesting talk.

Isn’t it Cold in the Winter?
This talk is away from our usual subject of the Home Front in World War II, but we are often asked about our alternative way of life.

As live-aboard boaters the question we are most asked “Isn’t it Cold in the Winter?” In 2003 we bought an inflatable dinghy. It would be a purchase that would completely change our lives. Six years on we bought Edith, a Dutch Barge and moved on, lock, stock and cat. Follow our journey from making that monumental decision to what it is actually like to live on a Barge and travel the waterways.

The Women’s Institute in WW2
Not just Jam and Jerusalem

Most people just think about the WI as making cups of tea, singing Jerusalem and making jam, but find out how it started and learn about the incredible part they played during WW2, unfortunately mostly forgotten.

Including some very interesting and surprising facts.

Life on the Home Front

What happened on the Home Front during WW2 and how did men, women and children keep the country going? Some very surprising facts, first hand memories, music and hundreds of photos.