The Heritage Bulletin Blog ran from July 2012 to January 2020, covering a huge range of subjects, from a day in the archives, to extracts from the WVS bulletins, and histories of various WVS/WRVS services.
It’s 219 articles have become a valuable resource in themselves, why not search them or just browse to discover something new.
More news from around the country, originally these stories were submitted by Centre Organisers on the back of the Narrative Reports and selected by the editors of the Bulletin for publication. These are just a few activities from December 1949.
GLASGOW - The mobile canteen lent by Scottish Headquarters
was taken inside the Customs barrier at the docks for the sailing of the
emigrant ship Cameronia. The canteen operated for many hours, serving not only
those going abroad but also friends who had come to see them off. W.V.S.
escorts at the station were on duty from early morning until late afternoon.
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY - Services Welfare, An ex-regular soldier
of the Indian Army telephoned an urgent request for help. He explained that,
with his family, he was to have embarked for Australia within the next few
days. His wife had that morning been admitted to hospital, could we find
someone to care for the triplets aged 3 years, in order that he could get to
London and cancel all his arrangements with the Emigration Authorities? A
member came to the rescue and undertook the care of the three boys.
HORNCHURCH - This locality is fortunate in having a landmark
in a windmill over 160 years old. Up to 20 years ago it was owned by a baker
who milled his own flour, but it was neglected during the war and has been
falling with slow decay. Now, through the interest of the Ancient Order of
Preservation of Windmills Society and Essex County Council, voluntary workers
go every weekend to restore the windmill to working order. W.V.S. supplies teas
to the volunteers and hopes to make a profit on the transaction. This profit
will become a donation to the Windmill Fund.
NOTTINGHAM C.B - A message was received one day that a young
German boy from Bremen was arriving the next night at Fenchurch Street Station.
Could W.V.S. meet, feed and escort him to the train for Nottingham. London
W.V.S. as always, came to the rescue. The Boat Train was late in arriving;
consequently the Nottingham connection was missed. W.V.S. took the child on a
tour of London, found accommodation for the night and saw him off on the first
train the following morning.
MITCHAM - Dumb Friends League.-W.V.S. have obtained a
regular supply of dog biscuits to be sent through the Dumb Friends League to an
old age pensioner who found it impossible to feed his dog.
RUTLAND COUNTY - The County Organiser walked into the office
one day to be told that she need not worry about the Home Help for Mrs.
So-and-So's baby as it had been cancelled! A Home Help on her first maternity
case told the Organiser when she went along that the family were destitute and
there were no napkins for the baby. A small supply was produced and later one
appeared on the table as a table-cloth. The woman who went in as Home Help came
out as Godmother to the infant.
READING C.B - W.V.S. Children's Specialist in addition to
her other work, devotes Thursday afternoons to the Babies Home at Battle
Hospital and regularly takes the babies out in the large hospital perambulator!
ST. PANCRAS - Fifty-three members from our Kentish Town
Darby and Joan Club were taken by coach one evening to see the “Lights of
Southend." Had tea and cakes at the end of the Pier and arrived home 11.00
p.m.
WESTON-SUPER-MARE - One afternoon the police rang through to
say that they had two boys aged 15 and 13 at the Station, who had run away from
their home in Bristol on stolen bicycles. They had slept out all night in heavy
rain and were found wandering in Weston soaked through. The police asked
whether we could supply them with clothing. We feel rather proud of the fact
that we fitted them both out with shirts-pants-sports
coats-mackintoshes-pullovers -shoes, and last but not least long trousers.