History Talk & Afternoon Tea

I interviewed 40 local people for their memories and experiences of living in Bude during WWII and after until 1954, as rationing went on for nine years. Although Bude was not bombed like the cities, the social impact was huge with evacuees, poverty and troops making a huge impact. None more than the Americans who were billeted in people's homes, whilst they trained on our beaches for D-Day's Operation Overlord.  The stories are fascinating, some tragic, some funny, but all real and accompanied by illustrations. We discuss the Jim Crow laws brought over by the American military and the effect of that on the African American troops also stationed here. 

After the talk, you are presented with a proper 1940s Ration afternoon tea, which includes spam (of course!) and homemade cakes from original Second World War recipes. The talk runs just over an hour. During tea, there is plenty of…