World War 2 Stories

Posters of WW2 & many photos & newspaper cuttings were displayed & set the scene for our members & guests at our April meeting, when Mac Narborough recounted his WW2 memories.
Mac told us he was born in Southampton above a shoe shop & came to Wisbech where Narborough’s shoe shop & chiropody service has been, in Norfolk Street for many years.
He remembers the threat of war approaching & being sent on his cycle to all the grocers’ shops in town, even recalling the names, to purchase sugar.
His grandfather was Headmaster at Wisbech school& his family served the community in several ways during the war.
He mentioned the Air Raid Warden Stations in Wisbech & himself being a boy scout & a runner taking messages between the various posts .He spoke of air raid shelters & evacuation procedures which were practised on a regular basis. Of being on fire watch duties on top of a large shop roof armed with a stirrup pump & bucket of water.
Mac spoke of the local Home Guard formed to support the regular army & how the home guard had only arm bands for recognition & farmyard tools for defence.
He joined the RAF & told of his skiing training in Norway & his training days & of his comrades many of them were old school friends, two of whom still survive.
Facts, figures & names were mentioned by Mac proving that he has a remarkable memory. An enjoyable evening, when the audience were invited to ask questions & tell their own WW2 stories & look at the displays.
Our May meeting will see Alison Sloane speaking of old Fenland recipes & diet with tastings of some of the recipes.
[Barbara Holmes]