Spam fritters and cakes made from dried egg powder are making a comeback this month as 1940s Britain is recreated in a series of intergenerational tea dances across the country. As well as having the chance to eat traditional post-war grub younger people will also be invited to learn how to dance along to big band and jive swing tunes with those who lived during the Second World War.
Organised by volunteering charity Toc-H, the tea dances are part of Veterans Month (July) in the Year of the Volunteer. Throughout the month events will recognise the impact made by volunteering veterans and those who volunteer to support ex-services people. The month coincides with the Ministry of Defence’s official 60th anniversary of the end of Second World War on Sunday 10 July.
The tea dances are designed as an opportunity for the young and old to bridge the generation gap and end the distrust that can exist between them. It is also hoped that younger people will appreciate the experiences of those who lived during the war and challenge misconceptions they may have of previous generations.
Local volunteers at the tea dances will record the Second World memories of the veterans to keep as a permanent testimony of life during the war as part of the BBC People’s War Project. CSV Action Desks based at BBC Local Radio Stations have so far managed to recruit an army of 1,300 volunteer story gathers collecting nearly 2,000 stories for their online archive.
The Year of the Volunteer 2005 is owned by volunteers, led by a partnership between Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and the Volunteering England Consortium, and supported by the Home Office.
Details of the tea dances:
Monday 4 July Walton on the Naze, Essex, St George’s Hall
Around 70 Toc-H volunteers and members of the Royal British Legion will be joined by 20 students from Tendering Technical College for the chance to eat spam sandwiches and 1940s style trifle. The music in Essex will seek to educate both the older and younger generations with the DJ spinning everything from big band to hip hop!
Wednesday 6 July Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Toc H Community Centre
Veterans from forces and ex-forces organisations across Kent will join older people from the Tunbridge Wells Toc-H afternoon club for cream tea and to commemorate the end of the Second World War. Young people with ADHD will volunteer their time to gather the stories of the veterans in attendance.
Friday 8 July Birmingham, St Francis Church Woodgate Valley Community Centre
Around 60 older people from St Francis Church and the local community will be joined by 20 children from Nonsuch Primary School to enjoy spam fritters and cakes made from powered egg. The older people will also tell the children about life during the war.
Saturday 14 July Winsford, Cheshire, The Dingle Recreation Centre
60 Pensioners from Winsford will join around 20 young people who have left care and young rurally isolated people for Cheshire’s Tea Dance.
Saturday 30 July Limehouse, East London, Toc H John Scurr Centre
Toc-H veterans will join 35 older women from the local dockers club to enjoy the 1940s revival. The older people have collected together recipes from the post-war era to help recreate the traditional tea dance experience.
For more information on the Year of the Volunteer and events taking place during Veterans Month log on to www.yearofthevolunteer.org.
For press enquires: Paul Donohoe on 020 7812 0037/07779 624 385 pdonohoe@csv.org.uk or Martin Walford/Jason Tanner 020 7812 0033/38 mwalford@csv.org.uk
Notes for Editors
1. For more information on the BBC People’s War Project log on to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2
2. Year of the Volunteer 2005 is owned by volunteers, led by a partnership between Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and the Volunteering England Consortium, and supported by the Home Office.
3. The Volunteering England Consortium consists of Volunteering England, TimeBank, do-it, The Media Trust, Bitc and Youth Action Network.
4. Veterans Month is being led by Toc-H, working with MOD Veterans Unit, Royal British Legion, COBSEO, BLESMA and working with the BBC People's War Project
5. To find out more about events and activities during the Year of the Volunteer 2005, please visit the official website at www.yearofthevolunteer.org or watch The Community Channel 24 hours a day on Sky 585 and Telewest 233. It’s also on ntl 14 and from 6-9am on Freeview 46. Information is also available on BBC2 Ceefax page 650.