大象传媒

One of the war events I remember as a boy was the regular National Savings Weeks. A topic was chosen at national level such as "Build a Battleship Week" when everyone was encouraged to buy national savings stamps to help fund the war effort.Towns and villages organised events in these weeks to raise funds.
In one of these weeks a marquee was erected in our village sport field and some lady musicians came to give a concert.I realised I was listening to something special and remember it was Handel, probably Handel in the Strand or his Watermusic. Years later I understood we had been listening to the famous Harrison sisters including the world renowned Beatrice the cellist.
In another fund raising week a Dance was held in the village hall and we were promised a cabaret.A lady arrived for this called Adelaide Hall. To this day I can see and hear her rendering of "Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer". As a boy I was unaware of her fame but knew this was really a special treat. Apparently Adelaide lived locally near the village during the war.
As kids we used to go around in these weeks and cheekily remind people to buy the stamps.I remember such weeks used to give us a feeling of doing our bit and I suppose generated a sense of community and purpose in a village surrounded by soldier camps and military preparations.Perhaps this was a childs perspective?

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