Availability: No longer meeting
We have been awarded a National Heritage Lottery Fund grant to undertake this project to explore and document life on Hayling between the ends of the first and second world wars - the changing years. I thank the many members who have offered to become involved in a range of ways.
The range of help required is comprehensive; for example, we need people who would be willing to talk with Hayling residents whose families lived on Hayling during those years. It may well be that you live next door to such a family and could encourage them to tell you of their family stories which could be included in a future publication, or have
interesting artefacts which they may be willing to lend to an exhibition in 2019. We also seek any members who would be willing to assist in the writing up of the stories and research information gathered. You may be able to help in researching the services available to Hayling residents including:
- the Southdown Motor Company and transport
- the demise of the Gas works
- the Fire Service
- the Coastguards
- RNLI
- the 2 golf clubs
- the story of the bridge and its effect on Island life
- the change from Agriculture to becoming a predominately holiday Island:
- camping
- railway carriages
- holiday estates, and the beginning of the holiday camps
- schooling
- life as a child during the War
- the demise of the large summer holiday homes of the wealthy which led to the growth in residential schools
We are fortunate that Janet Coates-Jones has again undertaken the mammoth task of recording the men and civilians who lost their lives within the sequence of major events during WW2. Janet will appreciate any help in tracing these families to enable her to record accurate stories attached to each casualty.
We have over 450 members in our U3A and this is a great opportunity for you to become involved in a project which covers so many areas of everyday life, It is our hope that in taking part you will discover new interests and friendships. We will be offering help and advice to everyone and small groups willing to become involved. No matter how tentative you may feel on reading this I am sure that once you become involved you will find the experience rewarding and enjoyable and you may make new friends along the way.
If you'd like to be added to the project mailing list, or if you have something to contribute, please let me know via email address: changingyears@haylingu3a.org.
Thank you,
Mike Burnham