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Stockport Library and Information Service has signed up to support the People's War project by promoting it throughout the Stockport community and supporting people who wish to contribute their own memories of World War Two to the People's War website.

The Library and Information Service is being supported during this project by its partners in Age Concern, Stockport and the Museum Service.

There are different ways that you can contribute your own memories:-

If you know how to use computers and have your own email address you can set up your own personal page on the website where you can post up your memories. Other people can visit this page and read your memories and respond to them.

If you are not very confident with computers you can still contribute to the People's War by contacting Linda Paton at Stockport Library Service (tel 0161 474 2251).
All the stories posted up on this section of the site are created by members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of Stockport Library and Information Service.

Stop Press: The Heroes Return Project
We have just heard that £10 million is being made available from the National Lottery Fund to enable UK residents who saw active service or who were involved with the British or Allied Forces in World War Two to apply for grants to visit battlefield areas where they saw action. The amounts involved will depend on how far afield you need to travel and whether you are intending to take a partner and or a carer. You need to contact the Veterans Agency on 0800 169 2277 who will then pass on your details to the National Lottery. You will then receive an application form and information pack telling you more about the process.

Stockport Local Heritage Library would like to share with you some of interesting items about World War Two, many of which have been donated by the public and members of staff.

These include:
- Letters to Stockport Sunday School from members serving in the forces
- Photographs of service women
- Photographs from the Stockport Air Raid Shelters
- Adverts for cinemas and theatre bills
- Extracts from contemporary newspapers and school log books
- A list of Channel Island evacuees
- Ration books and wartime recipes from local newspapers
- Photographs of women working on the manufacture of ‘sticky bombs’ at Kay Brothers in Stockport.

Donations to our collection are always welcome.

Recently, staff at the Local Heritage Library have made available to the public an extensive collection of WW1 and WW2 biographies.
The Biographies contain all the information that library staff have been able to find on local people involved in the wars.

Sources used include:
- Local Newspapers – e.g. The Stockport Advertiser and The Stockport Express
- The Cheshire Year Book
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- War Memorial Listings

Stockport Local Heritage Library has also published a number of books relating to this period:

Hazel Grove at War Again by John Eaton
Biographies of Hazel Grove casualities, includes a general introduction to wartime Hazel Grove

One Child's War by Elizabeth Chapman
Memories of a wartime childhood in Stockport

Stockport's Hidden Army by The Hidden Army Group
Women of Stockport in the Second World War and on the Home Front

Surviving the Blitz by Graham Nicholson
The story of Stockport’s tunnel air raid shelters

Also available are facsimile newspapers

The Blitz Edition – Stockport Express 26th December 1940
The D Day Edition – Stockport Advertiser 9th June 1944
The VE Day Edition – Stockport Express 10th May 1945

For more information about the above please contact 0161 474 4447.