The D-Day exhibition in the Hub

D-Day was a huge undertaking with so many people, groups and organisations coming together to contribute to its success. Our display reflects that spirit of co-operation.

Reproduced by kind permission of the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance RegimentWe knew there were images in the Photo Archive that we could use, some of which are also in the Civic Society’s publications, ‘Addingham in World War Two’ by Beryl Falkingham and Richard Thackrah and ‘Main Street Memories: Living and Shopping in 1940s Addingham’ by Beryl Falkingham, Gloria Stitt and Don Barrett. And of course there are plenty of images on the internet, but these had to have a relevance to our story and one in particular did. Les Chamberlain (whose story is told in the exhibition) was in one of the gliders that landed at Pegasus Bridge and we wanted to show a Horsa glider in flight – there were six of them so a flight of six was needed. This was difficult to arrange since there are very few model kits of the glider available (and our model making skills are not what they were when we were teenagers). However, there is a great photo from the 6th Airborne Armoured Recce Regiment RAC that we were able to use and also Ken Crooks, grandson of Les Chamberlain was kind enough to lend us a Horsa glider model.

Physical artifacts would enhance the display – and that’s where the co-operation really started. Firstly, we heard about Keighley Plastic Model Club who meet in the Hub every month and were very pleased to let us borrow a superb selection of D-Day models their members had made. The models are delicate so we needed some display cases to protect them from inquisitive fingers. And that’s where Ilkley Library and The Thackray Medical Museum collaborated and loaned us the display cases.

The Second World War Experience Centre in Otley is a treasure trove of information and artifacts and they kindly let us borrow a genuine Air Raid Warden’s kit. And finally, pupils at Addingham Primary School made a brilliant scrapbook including all sorts of things, including war time recipes. We’d love to know whether anyone has tried making the vinegar cake!

And to round off the co-operation, Addingham Film Club helped us to show that epic film about D-Day, ‘The Longest Day’'

So, ten different organisations and people co-operated in making the display. It’s been so popular that it will now run through to the end of July, so you still have time to go and see it in the Hub.