Forum Topic

Blitz Eyewitnesses Sought for BBC Radio 4 Documentary

I work for an independent production company called Juniper, we make documentaries for the BBC and Channel 4 primarily. At the moment we are in the process of making a series on the Blitz for BBC Radio 4. We are very keen to find some eye witnesses to interview for the programmes and I thought that this forum might be a good to ask for assistance in this area. In particular I am looking for eyewitnesses for a programme on London I am producing, the theme is “the technology of defence” so I would love to speak to anyone with experience of the following:• The Blackout• Sirens / Warning Systems• Fire Fighting• Planes• Search Lights• Barrage Balloons• Bomb Disposal Units• Shelters (Anderson, Morrison, Surface)• The German “Beam” navigation system + Its Disruption• Decoy Systems, dummy aeroplanes, fake landing strips to fool the German bombers• P and C – parachute and cable – a sort of rocket fired snare which aimed to  bring down German planesI am especially keen to find anyone who might have worked on the anti-aircraft gun that was located in Gunnersbury Park.The programme is in production now so I’m keen to speak to people as soon as possible, the series itself will be broadcast on Radio 4 in the second week of September.I would be very happy to travel to wherever our interviewees are currently living and we would try to take up as little of their time as possible, I imagine the interview would take about an hour but I would be very happy to make it shorter if desired. If you could circulate this I would be extremely grateful and if you have any questions about the series please don’t hesitate to ask.Best wishes,Maxmax.obrien@junipertv.co.uk

Max O'Brien ● 5774d7 Comments

Jim Lawes ● 5762d

Max,  I've just resent my email to you. It may arrive in your junk/spam mailbox!You may find it helpful to contact the local Age Concern people in both Brentford, Chiswick and Ealing as I know that there are many "war-time" locals who are still resident in local sheltered homes...and they are quite with-it with their memories. Several ladies in Chiswick have lived in the area for over 70,80 and 90 years!! Honest. I met them at the Christmas Day Party.At Chiswick Library (located in Dukes Avenue W4), the Local Studies section of the Reference Library contains a wonderful book (blue coloured) listing local wartime incidents in date order. Over 600 happenings are recorded in beautiful handwriting showing the street names and weight of the bomb and the damage it did.  It was producted by the local Civil Defence Unit.A small bomb even fell on Kew Bridge..sorry I mean the King Edward the Seventh Bridge...leaving shapnel marks on the eastside wall. I cannot recall if Brentford happenings are listed..and that needs to be confirmed.  Certainly dear Wolseley Gardens is listed!!

Jim Lawes ● 5766d

Hi Jim,I'm not sure that I recieved your email.Best wishes,Maxmax.obrien@junipertv.co.uk

Max O'Brien ● 5767d

That was a touch of "Memory Lane" Sarah..not just that wonderful thread some years back on the Chiswick Forum with Cllr Adrian Lee, Ann Allridge and all but the happenings 66 years ago!I sent an email to Max..who introduced this thread..but I have had no acknowledgement.. yet! Probably it's adults firing anti-aircraft shells from Gunnersbury Park that he's seeking.... not young five year old youngsters wondering what the hell was going on every night. It was just like Dhiwali (Sp?)!

Jim Lawes ● 5767d

Posting titledRe:Re:Re:Christine Hooper launches us into WW2:Chiswick during the war.(Wolseley Gardens)I feel weepy at this moment... for those 5 people who Gillian Clegg says lost their lives when the bomb fell in Wolseley Gardens on 23rd February 1944. I was saved by just a fraction of a second.  Some four houses were demolished opposite ..at the junction with Whitehall Park Road..and I had been lying in my bed across the road..aged nearly five..hearing the approaching noises. (bombs on the way including hitting United Dairies/now Porsch car park and further away.)I jumped from my bed and joined my Mum under the steel structure in our small living room. I remember glass all over my bed and cracked walls. I remember at one point seeing six ambulances in a row.The Sheridans, opposite, must have been lucky too..and the Dews, the Blanks, the Hoopers, the Waltons and Peter Balderston and his family.My mother apparently (I later heard) took us to a friend in Gordon Road/Whitehall Gardens corner(opposite the Shepherds Nursery) and asked Mrs Broadhead if we could move in. Not sure if she did help..as soon we were sleeping in a Sports Pavilion alongside the Ice House in Grove Park Terrace!We later moved to the new flat above an unfinished shop in Edensor Road.(Fat Boys cafe is there now!)I wonder if those occupants of the rebuilt houses in Wolseley Gardens are aware of that site's local history?There were other houses bombed nearby..but not in WG.  Whitehall Park Road got hit at the south end bit..near the junction with Gordon and prefabricated bungalows took the place of the bomd sites.So we had a local Anderson Shelter, Gas masks..even for tots..and those steel structures erected over our beds.London Transport bus destination blinds adored our windows..so the 65 bus details were never far away!St Mary's Crescent lost one house..on the east side bend.Whitehall Gardens was unscathed.How about a little memorial to those locals who died..in the Havard Hill Recreation ground?..backing onto the four houses?

Sarah Felstead ● 5773d

I noticed you placed the same request on Chiswick W4 - don't know if you have also tried Ealingtoday?Jim may miss the request on the Chiswick forum as the topic heads off the front page very quickly.  He will probably read this though, and you can send him a personal message by finding one of his postings and clicking on his name at the top of the page.

Sarah Felstead ● 5773d

Have you contacted Osterley House as they have a lot of research from their members and links in their paper newsletter to long term residents of the area?  Another point of contact might be through the local Churches, they have newsletters, do announcements in church and have a network of e-mail contacts.St Mary's in Osterley might help?  e-mail  stmaryparishcentre@tiscali.co.ukOur houses were built in the 1930's and neighbours had designated houses to hide below during air raids instead of shelters in the back garden.  Some had trap doors in the floor for access under the house and others a small outside door under the back patio doors.

Sarah Felstead ● 5773d