BBC Radio 4 - Legacy of War Sean Bean presents a (radio) series exploring the ways in which wartime experiences have filtered down through the generations. Each episode 15 mins - audio - (Weekly - 10 episodes, 2 having been broadcast thus far.... ) BBC Radio 4 - Legacy of War, Episode 1 Gethin Russell-Jones' father was a conscientious objector during the Second World War, and in this programme he -- and his son Adam -- discuss the complicated legacy of this principled decision. Gethin has written about his parents in two books: My Secret Life in Hut Six and Conchie. BBC Radio 4 - Legacy of War, Episode 2 Betty Pachl's father, Barclay Patoir came to the UK in 1943 from British Guyana in South America, now known as Guyana. After so many lives had been lost at Dunkirk there was a shortage of engineers and Barclay answered an advert posted by the British Government in The West Indies Times saying "Your Mother Country Needs You'. When Barclay arrived in Liverpool he was sent to install engines into Halifax bombers at the Avro factory in Speke. It was there that he met Trudy. Their love survived; painful sacrifices, war and prejudice. Max and Betty discuss the legacy of their union and Barclay's determination to use the opportunity the Second World War gave him to make the best life he could for Trudy and their family. The family motto that if you start something you see it through to the end, endures to this day. Max is now a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and very proud of Barclay. He also acknowledges the sacrifices Barclay made; never again reuniting with his mother or sisters. It is with great sadness that shortly after recording with Betty and Max both Barclay and Trudy passed away within hours of each other. Their family wanted this episode to broadcast in memory of their love, life and legacy. Episode 3 - Wednesday 27th May 2020 - 9.30am
I remember way back in the late 40s early 50s when my Dad was a project engineer with BICC in the NW his senior foreman, who kept all the teams in place, was West Indian and had served with the RAF during the war. This was pre Windrush and West Indians were very much a novelty. He had managed to get his family across. A very nice man as I remember but a bit Victorian in his ways. I found the episode very interesting.
