End of the Month

Well it is some days since I posted and now it is the last day of May

The main event that took place on the 22nd was our visit to the East Riding to my old school at Swanland

We travelled the evening before and stayed at the TravelLodge near Cave so we arrived at the school well on time.

I was to present them with a picture of my brother Sgt Pilot Stanley ANDREW , who also attended the school. Some time ago the local MP David Davis presented the school with a Battle of Britain School Memorial Plaque in his memory and the Head has kept in touch.

When he heard I had pictures of Stan in Norway in 1940 with his Squadron the 46th, he asked for a copy. So I had a one framed to present

On arrival we also met the local East Riding Councillor and Chair of the School Governors, Helen.

But when we were ready it was announced that we would be watching a Dress Reshersal for the School Play - what an experience

The school hall was once our Village Hall, the stage has gone but a modern type stage for the play was in position.

Afterwards I had to speak and present the picture and was able to say that when I was a boy at the school I had performed in a Pantomine in the Hall, on the old stage, dressed as a Pirate

The Pantomine Picture

Afterwards we went to the village of Thorngumbald to meet my cousins Janet and Margery.

Janet has a most wonderful garden which is mainly due to the fact that she helped run her late Father and Mothers Nursery Garden and Garden Centre

I made a recording with my camcorder so will see if I can post the video here.

We stayed the night at Beverley which is a historic town and enjoyed the walk around that evening.

Next morning Cll Helen had arranged for me to have a private visit to the Councils new Treasure House. This contains the Archives, Library and Museum and the Archives are in a new section. I was shown the rooms where all the archive material is safely stored and around the offices and staff rooms. The Conservation section is not yet workig but appears to have a good space for this important work of conserving and repairing documents.

I was able to spend a little time using the computer search system and they found and copied for me part of the book I once deposited. It was written up in 1939-40 by my father who was Clerk of Swanland Parish Coucil, it shows the names and addresses of all who enlisted for voluntary service as Air Raid Warden, Firemen and First Aiders.

Also a list of emergency food rations and where they were stored.

We left Beverley before lunch and stopped en-route at the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington near York and had our lunch in the NAFFI

Then a quick look round - I am a member - especially in the Archives Hut and that of 609 West Riding Squadron with many pictures and records from their actions in The Battle of Britain

A most interesting 2 days to remember