Greenwich University on Wartime memories

GREENWICH PEOPLE EXPLORE WAR-TIME HISTORY AT UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH

The people of Greenwich are being invited to share their memories of the Second World War and to explore the borough’s rich historical archives, as part of a community history programme being run by the University of Greenwich.
The programme also includes a series of free history talks, which are open to students and to the public. They will cover a wide variety of topics, including the role of the Women’s Land Army during the Second World War and the massacre of thousands of Londoners’ pets at the outbreak of the war.

The next talk is on Wednesday February 24 at 5pm. University of Greenwich graduate Lianne Blanks, who is Marketing and Development Co-ordinator at the Imperial War Museum, will be speaking about career opportunities in heritage and how museums and historic sites deal with sensitive issues, such as conflict, in post-war Europe.

She will be followed by Paul Goodman, a final year History student at the university, who will share some of his findings from the local archives on how the highly infectious disease TB was treated in Greenwich following the First World War and through to the founding of the National Health Service. Both talks will be followed by open discussion.

Dr June Balshaw, History Programme Leader in the University of Greenwich’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, said the programme of free talks is part of a research project to gather memories and stories of the Second World War from the wider population.

“The university is planning an exhibition of photographs, memories and memorabilia, to be held in the autumn,” she said. “We are currently looking for volunteers to help us collect oral testimonies from people for this project. Full training will be given.

“We are also hoping that people in the Greenwich area who have stories from the war to share will come forward.”

The series of talks, ‘Other Narratives of War’, is part of a history project being funded by the University of Greenwich.

The talk on Wednesday February 24 at 5pm is in the Greenwich Council Chamber, Queen Anne 063, at the University of Greenwich Old Royal Naval College campus. Although entry is free it is advisable to reserve a place by emailing Dr June Balshaw at bj61@gre.ac.uk or calling 020 8331 7874.

For further information about studying history at the University of Greenwich, call 0800 005 006 or visit www.greenwich.ac.uk.