Wartime Nostalgia draws the Crowds

A regular feature in the village calendar is the Autumn Event organised by the Parish Council. The title this year was ‘Galleywood at War’ and the theme attracted much support from exhibitors and visitors alike. Keene Hall was adorned with posters recalling the austerity and National pride engendered by the war situation and the nostalgic sounds of Vera Lynn, Glenn Miller and Joe Loss brought back memories for all who lived through the second World War. Ron White spent many hours assembling an impressive photographic montage of people and events of the period. Christine Whybro presented the detailed results of her research into the Service history of Galleywood residents who ‘Served and Survived’ in the Forces; alongside her similarly detailed Memorial to those who didn’t return from the conflict. The room behind the Lodge room was cleverly fitted out by Jill Bellamy as a 1930s kitchen with authentic cooker, dresser, sink and all the green and cream kitchenware of the period.

The Historical Society displayed photos of six local residents alongside a brief account of their wartime memories. The Revd. Stephen Bailey conducted a short memorial service during the morning and the exhibition was visited later during the day by the Mayor and Mayoress of Chelmsford. Over a thousand visitors came to the hall during the day.