DIG FOR VICTORY

By the end of May and after 4 week's hard work the house looked 50 years younger. It was now filled with everything that we could possibly imagine you might have found in a house half a century ago. Outside in the garden, the Anderson shelter had grass sprouting on it's roof and seedling vegetables were appearing in our 'DIG FOR VICTORY' garden. All we had to do now was hang out the bunting for our grand opening. All the children gathered for the opening ceremony by the Station Commander, all dressed in 1940s dress and with gas mask boxes hanging on their shoulders. Military vehicles, loaned by local collectors, were positioned in the street outside and television cameras covered the moment when Gp Capt Jarron cut the ribbons and declared 'open house'.  The reaction from our first visitors was astounding. What we had recreated in such a short time had struck a chord with the members of that generation who had lived through the war, and it seemed to revive many memories and strong emotions. Our pupils were now able to spend time in the house, often dressed in costume and cooking wartime recipes,  or making up the details about the 'family' who lived there. They were fascinated by all the details that their parents thought quite unremarkable: "What are these hairy clothes on the beds?" (blankets) and "What's this big china cup under the bed for?" Where's the television?" "Where's the video?" apart from that, they considered it would be great fun to live there… for a short while. The house remained open for the next two months and during that time over 500 people toured the 'Home Front' house museum. Many elderly visitors had fascinating reminiscences of living through the wartime years. We hope that we may be able to gather them back again in the future to record their memories as part of a local history archive. All that was nearly 4 years ago, but now the houses are to be sold off and the future of the 'Home Front House Museum' is uncertain. North Kesteven District Council would like it to remain as an inportant feature in their Aviation Heritage Trail, but we are now waiting to see if the house can be secured as a museum.