Category: yesteryear

How to commemorate the centenary of the First World War

from Flanders field During this year many events will take place to commemorate the start in 1914 of the First World War. In the UK and in many countries across the world the War had a devastating impact claiming a total of over 16 million lives.

The centenary will be marked with a great number of public acts of remembrance from 2014 through to 2018. Many organisations have been preparing to play their part. English Heritage,responsible for over 400 historic sites, many of which played a part in events and people’s lives during the WW1 period, is one such intending to play host to members of the public and allowing them to participate in visits,events and projects. So if you are looking for a great day out with family, or you are up for more involvement, you should have a look at the calendar of things suggested at the English Heritage site.In partnership with the Council of British Archaeology, EH is looking at ‘lost’ sites of historical importance, including a WW1 training camp which has turned-up interesting finds connected to overseas soldiers who had trained at it. There maybe opportunities for you to join in and become ‘hands-on’. Of course to enjoy the full benefits of what EH has to offer, you will be required to take-out membership. There are,however, generous concessionary rates on offer, and children can often visit free at most properties. Membership apart, the EH site is well worth looking at for the wealth of information and photos it provides, including little known facts about the WW1 years and special images from its archives. Look for a World War 1 event at an English Heritage property near you this year which has been particularly dedicated to the horses and riders who played their part on all the battle fronts – there will be talks,music,and kid’s activities.You will also receive an insight into the lives of those who served on the Home Front. Of course, there there will many more ways through organisations to commemorate this most important historic time 100 years ago. They will range from local churches arranging remembrance services and fairs to commemoration arranged at a national level arranged perhaps to take place in London and other major cities in the UK.

Who will care for the carers in our society beyond 2017?

Geriatrics and elderly careWho will care for the carers ?

According to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), more of us are worrying about how we will be cared for when we are older. A growing number of us have taken on the  responsibility for the care of parents, but the IPPR sees a growing ‘family care gap’ developing as the number of older people in need of care  exceeds the number of family members able to provide it. This gap is expected to be apparent for the first time in 2017

The huge challenge is to meet the care needs of an ageing baby boomer generation.This could increasingly continue to fall on adult children and their partners, with women being seen as the main carers and most likely to have to give-up work to take on the care responsibilities. The IPPR draws out a number of key issues which demand a rethink of how we look after each other in later life. There is the refocusing of the respective roles of state and individuals, also the widening of the narrow  focus on physical and health needs to include those needs necessary  to lead a decent life in older age.
Whose responsibility is it anyway?
The state though holding a pivotal role has never been the main provider, in the post-war period, of care and support for the elderly. It is family support that has carried most of the weight for this, at an estimated annual value of £55billion.
As budgets for spending on elderly care continue to be severely constrained, a recent NHS survey reveals that few of us believe government has the right social care policies. Post-war society has changed rapidly as the baby boomer generation age. More people now live alone, and family members often live far apart for both social and economic reasons. Looking forward,the IPPR in its report, is seeking to highlight solutions that place greater value on mutual  support provided by resources working within families,neighbourhoods and community networks.
So finally what can be done?
In making its recommendations the IPPR,believes the post-war model of social care needs a fundamental rethink, as it does not meet the wants and needs of the elderly, nor does it it prepare society to deal with an ageing  population.
A core recommendation is
  • the building and development of new neighbourhood networks  designed to help older people stay active and healthy, and support families find the right work care life balance.

This would work with other recommendations for

  • better care-coordination and single point contact
  • giving power to older people, families and carers to buy services directly using a community based ‘shared budget’
  • stronger employment rights enabling carers to better able combine work and care.
You can read the full IPPR report here…

Remembrance Day – 11 November 2012

For many reading this, Remembrance Day  11 November 2012 provides a time to pause for reflection and an ‘opportunity to honour those who gave their lives in the First World War. It is now a time to also to remember those who have died and suffered in more modern times – The National Archives newsletter’. The first Remembrance Day was held in 1919.

Recently, I decided to research some of my own family history. As it happens, I started to trace the details of my two military ancestors, two grandfathers who served in the British Army in the First World War. This interesting work turned up some fascinating insights into the lives of these two people who were never known to me.

Perhaps, you are interested also in finding out about a family member who served in the armed forces. The National Archives (TNA)in London holds collections comprising millions of documents, capturing more than a 1,000 years of British History, and including military service records. Many of these are available to view online as well as during a personal visit to TNA. Just some of the research material you can expect to find include:

  • medals and honours  – The First World War medal index is a valuable resource for tracing an individual military ancestor
  • First World War nurses’ services records
  • First World War service and pension records
Staff at TNA are producing a series of blogs, the first of which is at My Tommy’s War, which you can follow and learn how you can use their records to research your own ancestors. For those who love history,and want to find out more this is a must.

 

 

Make Yourself A Handsome New Year’s Cake 1891 Style

A treat for you for the New Year 2011: A handsome cake recipe from the Village Magazine of 1891:
“Rub half a pound of butter into half a pound of flour; add one cup of molasses and one of brown sugar, two pounds of chopped raisons, one pound of currants, and a quarter of a pound of chopped citron, four eggs and half a tablespoonful each of cinnamon, mace and nutmeg, and two wineglassfuls of brandy; mix all together and bake in jelly cake tins; keep the cake warm while you make, and bake in jelly tins of the same size, white cake made of half a pound of butter beaten to a cream,with half a pound of powdered sugar and five eggs,the whites beaten to a froth ; then add half a pound of flour, which should be dried by the fire and then sifted. The only wetting used is a wineglass of wine.
While the white cake is hot spread it lightly with jelly and pile it alternately with the black, having the white on the bottom and the black on the top. This cake will keep several months, but if to be eaten within a short time it may be frosted. Long keeping will darken the icing.”

Well,I’ve never made on of these! Some of the measurements though clear have not been tested by me; what of the wineglass of wine: red or white? Please if anyone does have a go at making this Handsome Cake, please let us know that we can all share your experience.
You can email me as usual at http://[email protected]

Graceful Women of Sixty

The following extract from the Pall Mall Gazette of circa.1890 gives us an interesting insight into the contemporary perception of the lady 60-lifer of those days:

“Old ladies in the ordinary sense of the word are getting remarkably scarce.I never came across old ladies’ bonnets,dresses,cloaks,or finery in any shape or form for old ladies at the shops. People tell me they don’t make such things. The fact is that women of 50 and 60 have ceased to make frights of themselves. They don’t wear their clothes (boots,bonnets, and gloves included) four time too big for them, like old ladies of past years used to. Less capacious garments are found to be just as comfortable.

“Women of sixty can and do dress gracefully nowadays. Those who have lost their own hair wear artificial ,and look all the better for doing so. With nice hair, whether real or otherwise,a woman of sixty can always put on a respectable looking bonnet. Ugly old ladies will have vanished altogether by the time the Princess of Wales is 60.”

Well, ladies, all I can say is thank goodness we are living in more enlightened times!