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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Roger Marsh of the ‘Action Desk — Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Hilary Clarke, and has been added to the site with the author's permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

These memories are taken from a special edition of a newsletter, kindly submitted by Longstone Local History Group. It was edited by Liz Greenfield and published in Autumn 2002. Longstone was a village which sheltered evacuees and was comparatively unaffected by air attack, although the night sky was often lit by the fires of the Sheffield Blitz.

Longstone Local History Group - Longstone Women’s Institute during the Second World War
By
Hilary Clarke
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Other parts to this story are at:

Introduction: A7887487

Roy Finney’s Story: A7887784

Frank, A and S Hurst: A7888396

Flames of Sheffield: A7888657

Molly Thornhill’s Story: A7888882

Tony Greenfield’s Story: A7889133

Martin Simon’s Story: A7889557

Stella Holmes’ Story: A7889971

Home defence remembered: A7890230

Burma servicemen Remembered: A7890492

Norman Hoare’s Story: A7891004

Norman Hassal’s Story: A7891888

One family’s War Part One: A7892562

One Family’s War Part Two: A7893534

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Hilary Clarke has been studying the history of Longstone W.I. using their minute books She has written this account of their contribution to the war effort.

The war proved how resourceful members of the W.I. could be. By October 1939, they had acquired an allotment and organised meetings to advise on the importance of homegrown vegetables. A jumble sale was held to raise money for blackout curtains for the school. Members helped with the collection of waste paper scrap iron and aluminium, and knitting groups were formed to knit socks, balaclavas and mittens for the troops. The W.I. helped with the evacuees and organised a joint Christmas party for them and the village children.
As the war progressed and food became scarce, a canning system was organised in the grounds of Longstone Hall. Members brought along surplus plums, damsons and apples to be canned.

The W.I. monthly meetings took on a practical nature with demonstrations of wartime cookery, hay-box cooking, the re-footing of lisle stockings and dress renovation. Ministry of Information films were shown including 'The Danger Of Invasion' and 'The necessity Of Saving For the War Effort'.

W.I. members diligently gave of their best to help the war effort by any means at their disposal.

Pr-BR

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