1940s role-players
Next week is the 75th anniversary of the May Blitz, the peak of the bombing of Merseyside during the Second World War.
From 1-7 May 1941 the region endured the most concentrated series of air attacks on any British city area outside London, causing more than 1,500 deaths and around 1,000 casualties.
To commemorate this terrible week in Liverpool’s history National Museums Liverpool has a programme of free talks, tours and family activities.
Join us from 12.30-3pm on 3 May 2016 at the Museum of Liverpool for We’ll Meet Again, an opportunity to share memories with our Education team. It could be your own account of that time or stories passed down through families, friends or neighbours. We would love to hear personal descriptions of life in Liverpool during the May Blitz and build a collective memory of that week which had such an enormous impact on the city and its people.
Role-players will greet visitors at the Merseyside Maritime Museum and Piermaster’s House over the Bank Holiday weekend (1-2 May) and give families an insight into life on the Home Front. Learn about life in Liverpool during the Second World War, from rationing to surviving the air raids.
Visitors look at objects related to May Blitz at Museum of Liverpool
Winston Churchill famously said of Liverpool in 1941: “I see the damage done by the enemy attacks, but I also see the spirit of an unconquered people.” A role-player of Britain’s wartime Prime Minister will wander through the Museum playing the charismatic leader.
Also on 2 May at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, a free variety performance will introduce a young audience to the sketches and songs associated with the Second World War. For older visitors it’ll be a chance to remember some of the old favourites made famous by the likes of Vera Lynn and Gracie Fields.
Back at Museum of Liverpool two curator talks cover different, fascinating subjects. On 3 May at 3pm, curator, Sharon Brown will share poignant, personal stories of those who lived through the Blitz and give a fuller picture of the week.
James Street station tower, 1941 from Stewart Bale collection.
On 6 May at 2pm, curator, Karen O’Rourke will give a talk on the nurses of the First and Second World War. This talk is also part of the Poppies: Women and War exhibition.
Take a look at the May Blitz anniversary events page on the website for all of these events and more.
You can also explore some fascinating online exhibitions and a timeline featuring shocking photographs of the devastation.