MEMBERS of the public took to the South Reading Community Centre on Saturday, November 11, for a retrospective event looking back at wartime Whitley.
The Whitley Community Museum’s latest in-person exhibition took place on Armistice Day and saw regular visitors and new faces alike enjoy photos, artefacts and keepsakes presented at the Northumberland Avenue site. On show were medals, wartime memorabilia and paintings by local artist Paul Beazley.
David Turner, the museum’s curator, described the event as “another success”.
He said: “What struck me at this event was the number of residents who wished to share their respective wartime experiences and memories. In the New Year, I will be arranging to meet three residents who are happy to have their stories recorded.
“One wishes to tell me of her experiences when the People’s Pantry in the Town Centre was bombed while another from Southampton wishes to tell me of her experience when she was forced into evacuation to Whitley, along with some other ladies, as their respective husbands were involved in top secret war work.”
He added that this particular visitor was sent to a mobile home in Northumberland Avenue, where the community centre is based. Mr Turner stressed how important it was for these stories to be preserved for future events and generations to learn about.
Such was the interest in people having their stories recorded, this is going to be the Community Museum’s next venture. The museum boasts more than 5,000 followers on Facebook and helps reconnect old friends through shared Whitley-related stories.
