Hagley Historical and Field Society

The Society’s December meeting took on a wartime look as we welcomed Paul Harding and Helen Lee from Discover History.  Appropriately dressed for the part, Paul took us on an entertaining journey as he described a 1940s Christmas.  This was no ordinary talk, nor was it illustrated with pictures of the time but instead we were treated to an exhibition of artefacts from the period.  The shortage of traditional Christmas fare prompted those on the Home Front into some often bizarre substitutes for those articles no longer available and Paul showed us home-made Christmas cards, decorations and toys.  Shortages of food led to some of the most inventive alternatives, like cardboard Christmas cakes and goose-shaped spam (complete with bones) for the Christmas day meal!  Although far too young to remember the period, Paul is a professional historian and his research was sufficiently thorough to satisfy his audience, several of whom had been through the period he described and could readily identify with the shortages.  The evening closed with some seasonal refreshments which were thankfully not on the ration!

The December walk took in Hagley Park and there will be a tour of the Hall for Society members and guests in March.